Deputy fatally shot man who threatened woman with machete, sheriff says

Shooting occurs during traffic stop at Marathon gas station in Pompano Beach

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. – A Broward Sheriff's Office deputy fatally shot a man who threatened a woman with a machete, Sheriff Scott Israel said.

The shooting occurred Sunday night during a traffic stop at a Marathon gas station parking lot in the 300 block of Northwest 31st Avenue in Pompano Beach.

BSO spokeswoman Dani Moschella said the woman approached Deputy Paul Yesbeck to report that a man, later identified as Deosaran Maharaj, had threatened her with a machete. She pointed him out to the deputy as Maharaj drove away in a pickup truck with its headlights off.

Moschella said Yesbeck initiated a traffic stop, but Maharaj did not comply with commands to show his hands and get on the ground. When Maharaj started rifling through his truck, Yesbeck was forced to open fire.

Israel confirmed the deputy fired multiple shots, one of which killed the man.

The truck crossed the street and crashed into a tree.

Homicide investigators are are trying to determine what happened, but they said the deputy perceived a threat and fired multiple shots.

Deputies said they found a machete in the trunk.


About the Author:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.