Gainesville, FL – A Florida man who brutally assaulted his ex-girlfriend was fatally shot by her father after breaking into her home late last week, according to police.
The incident began at approximately 9 p.m. on March 17, when the Gainesville Police Department (GPD) received a report of a domestic battery at the Polos Apartments located in the 2300-block of Southwest Williston Road, the GPD said in a press release.
Police said a male suspect had assaulted his ex-girlfriend inside her apartment and fled the area prior to their arrival.
Officers arrived at the scene and noted the woman had clearly been assaulted, WJW reported.
As police searched for the suspect, the victim’s father arrived at her apartment.
Approximately 30 minutes later, the woman’s ex-boyfriend returned to the scene and barged into her residence yet again, according to police.
But this time, her father was sitting inside, armed with a handgun.
The father fired a single round at the suspect, hitting him in the chest, according to police.
The suspect attempted to flee the scene, but he barely made it outside, the GPD said.
Officers found him lying next to his vehicle.
They began CPR until emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene, at which point he was pronounced dead.
The identity of the deceased suspect was not immediately released.
Polos resident Dalton Graham said he has always felt very safe and comfortable at the apartment complex, which sits near the University of Florida campus, WCJB reported.
“I thought that you had the wrong Polos or something,” Graham told the news outlet. “I have nothing but good things to say about the University and the city in general, and especially the Polos Apartments. Never really had anything like this so it was pretty shocking.”
No one had been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting as of Saturday, WCJB reported.
