BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. — A man who was shooting at deputies and grazed one deputy in the head has been fatally shot in North Lauderdale.
Broward Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a domestic disturbance call shortly before 8 a.m. on Saturday, July 23, 2022 in the 1700 block of S. State Road 7.
When deputies made contact with Mervel Jones Jr., he produced a firearm and fired at deputies, grazing one of the deputies in the head.
Deputies returned fire, striking the Jones.
He was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
The deputy who was struck was also hospitalized and is expected to recover.
"Fortunately, the subject did not kill one of our deputies. A millimeter to the left on the deputy’s head and this would have been a very different day. We are talking about a 20-year veteran deputy whose life would have been taken. Thankfully, that was not the case," Sheriff Gregory Tony said.
BSO's Homicide Unit detectives, Crime Scene Unit investigators and Internal Affairs investigators responded to the scene.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate the deputy-involved shooting.
