FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. – Police in Fort Lauderdale are looking into a fatal shooting and fire at a home where a person was locked inside.
Just before 8:25 p.m. on Thursday, the event happened near Northwest 27th Terrace and 18th Court.
Police say that they first came because someone had called 911 to report a shot.
The caller was the victim’s son, who told dispatchers that his mother had been shot and was lying in a pool of blood.
“I must report a murder… I’m not sure. Bass-Kemp’s son said, “I went to see my mom, and when I walked in, her boyfriend was sitting there. When I walked up to him and asked him why, he pulled a gun on me.” “He served in the military, and I know he has a license to carry or something like that.”
Police found out that the suspect was Richard Kenneth McDonald, who is 71 years old.
The woman turned out to be Gwendolyn Bass-Kemp, who is 71 years old. She worked for the City of Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue for a long time. She did billing for the service. Dr. James Bass, the city’s first Black dentist, is also connected to her.
A friend of the girl said, “She was nice. When she came home, she didn’t bother anyone, just like me. She just wanted to hang out.”
SWAT team members tried to find a peaceful answer, but it was already too late.
Officials say that McDonald left the house while still armed and shot himself in front of the house. Inside the house, there was also a dead woman. The police think that this is a case of murder-suicide.
Detective Ali Adamson of Fort Lauderdale said, “When we got there, the suspect quickly armed himself, locked himself inside the house, and we think he set the house on fire.” “He then takes the gun and shoots himself, and he dies.”
A friend of McDonald said that he saw him Thursday morning.
“He was a good dude,” the friend said. “I was in Vietnam for about 30 years, and I rode his boat and his motorcycle.”
With the help of the Fort Lauderdale SWAT team, nearby homes were cleared out during the episode. Firefighters couldn’t go into the house until it was clear that it was safe to do so.
The fire was finally put out, so it didn’t spread to other buildings.
7On Friday, the fire marshal went back to the scene and Skyforce flew over the totally destroyed house.
Neighbors say that the two people involved were not married, but they did live together. They had been living there for 14 years.
In a statement, the City of Fort Lauderdale said that they cared about Bass-Kemp and that her family is in their thoughts and prayers.
