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Breaking News

Two Dead in Florida Apartment Shooting

Aired April 27, 2001 - 12:11   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: Coming back down to Earth now and going directly to Florida to -- specifically to Hollywood, Florida, where, as we've been telling you, there is an episode in an apartment in which four people have been shot, two of them fatally, and a gunman has apparently exchanged fire with police.

We'd like to show you some pictures from our affiliate there -- WSVN television and while we're looking at these scenes from the apartment building, in which the shootings took place.

Let's turn now to CNN's Joanna Massee, a producer who has arrived on the scene there and can fill us in on details.

Joanna, can you hear us?

JOANNA MASSEE, CNN PRODUCER: Yes, Stephen, hi.

Actually, I am on my way to the scene right now. I just spoke with the Hollywood Fire Department, who confirmed that two victims were found dead on the scene. Two other victims were brought to Hollywood Memorial Hospital. Now, the police does have a SWAT team there and units. They are in the process of stabilizing the area.

Earlier, they tried to flood out the apartment building with tear gas to try and get the perpetrators out of there. Currently, the area is not secure.

FRAZIER: We are told by police that there was one shooter and they believe -- they can't tell whether they shot him or whether he took own life. Are you having any information about that, Joanna?

MASSEE: I do not have information about that, but I will bring it to you, Stephen, as soon as I get to the scene.

FRAZIER: All right, we can add a little bit of detail here. And, Joanna, jump in if you can amplify this at any stage.

We did hear comments on WSVN from an apartment building resident who was actually targeted by the shooter, when he stepped out of an elevator and found one of the victims lying on the floor. He attempted to help that victim, a woman with gunshot wounds -- as he said -- to the chest -- and then was ordered by the gunman, after several shots were fired in his direction, to get out of the lobby. That gentleman, Mr. McDonald was able to escape unharmed. And we understand, from these pictures, that the police had surrounded the building. We don't know whether they actually stormed it. Any other information from the fire department, Joanna?

MASSEE: No information yet, but I will get back to you as soon as I get to the scene.

FRAZIER: All right, thank you for that update.

Just to recap here: Four people have been shot, two of them fatally, in Hollywood, Florida, in an apartment building -- police now trying to secure that area.

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