OAKLAND PARK, FLA. (WSVN) – Authorities said they are investigating a deputy-involved shooting in Oakland Park that left a machete-wielding subject dead.<\/p>\n
Broward Sheriff\u2019s Office units responded to a report of a suspicious man in the 300 block of Northeast 38th Street, just after 7 a.m. on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Investigators believe the man, identified as Deavon McGauley, was on a sidewalk waving a machete.<\/p>\n
Detectives said deputies came into contact with McGauley, and a confrontation occurred in the 300 block of Northeast 33rd Street.<\/p>\n
At one point, authorities said McGauley aggressively attacked the deputies with a machete, leading to at least one deputy discharging their firearm and striking the 39-year-old subject.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen deputies got on scene, he attacked them with a machete, and that\u2019s when the shooting occurred,\u201d said BSO spokesperson Miranda Grossman in a news conference on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Witness David Aldasouki described the moment when, he said, the shooting occurred.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe had the machete, he was very angry. [A deputy] told him \u2018drop it, drop it\u2019 too many times,\u201d he said. \u201c[The subject] didn\u2019t understand, he jumped on [the deputies], he went to jump, and they start shooting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Investigators said the man was transported to Broward Health Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.<\/p>\n
Back at the scene, 7Skyforce hovered above a machete on the sidewalk with an evidence marker next to it.<\/p>\n
The man\u2019s mother, Michelle McGauley, told 7News that the situation did not warrant the gunfire. She said her son was 39 years old.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy cousin, his cousin, and other people said he had a machete. So, either way, they could have tased him,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She added that, while he had some personal troubles, he was never a bad person.<\/p>\n
\u201cDeavon was a wonderful person; he was a good person. Deavon was not a troublemaker; he had some mental issues going on,\u201d said Michelle.<\/p>\n
McGauley\u2019s aunt, who did not wish to be identified, said everyone in the area recognized him, and employees at nearby businesses would call his mother if they believed he needed help.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s just his favorite hangout spot. That\u2019s just been \u2013 he\u2019s been hanging out there for years, I mean, for years,\u201d said McGauley\u2019s aunt.<\/p>\n
Several of McGauley\u2019s family members are now searching for answers, believing that deputies were too quick to use guns to handle the situation.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that a Taser should have been used. That would\u2019ve been the proper force to use with someone with a machete from the distance that he was,\u201d said McGauley\u2019s cousin, who did not wish to be identified.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe police better \u2013 they need better training on mental health,\u201d said McGauley\u2019s aunt.<\/p>\n
With the investigation just beginning, it\u2019s unclear if responding deputies attempted to deploy their Tasers or how many shots were fired during the confrontation.<\/p>\n
The deputies involved in this shooting have been placed on administrative assignment while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement conducts an investigation.<\/p>\n
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