FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) – A man was found shot to death inside his car in a residential Fort Lauderdale neighborhood, police said, leaving his family devastated and triggering a search for the gunman responsible, as many questions remain unanswered.<\/p>\n
Fort Lauderdale Police units responded to a ShotSpotter alert in the area of Northwest 13th Court, off 15th Avenue, at around 4:25 a.m. on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
While canvassing the area, officers located the victim in the driver\u2019s seat of a white sedan parked outside of his parents\u2019 home. located just east of Interstate 95, blocks away from Sunrise Boulevard. He was pronounced dead at the scene.<\/p>\n
Hours later, the man\u2019s father, Philipp Menard, identified him as 32-year-old Mike Menard.<\/p>\n
\u201cI tried, I tried, I tried,\u201d he said as he wiped away tears.<\/p>\n
Surveillance video captured Mike\u2019s final moments. He is seen taking out the trash, then getting into his care.<\/p>\n
Moments later, detectives said, he was shot and killed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I wake up, after the shots, I heard the shots, so I wake up,\u201d said Philipp.<\/p>\n
A nearby surveillance camera captured the sound of gunfire, as well as the subject running off and then driving away.<\/p>\n
Neighbors who live across the street told 7News they woke up to the sound of gunfire. They said they heard several gunshots, followed by the large police presence feet from their front door.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like 4 o\u2019clock in the morning, and we only heard three shots, that\u2019s it,\u201d said a woman. \u201cI was super scared, because it was like \u2018boom, boom, boom.’\u201d<\/p>\n
7News cameras captured the victim\u2019s white car with bullet holes on the driver\u2019s side window, as well as bullet casings around the vehicle, as crime scene investigators combed the scene for evidence, took photos and looking in the ground with what appeared to be metal detectors.<\/p>\n
\u201cI watched from my window, and I see police come in, come in, come in \u2014 two police, three police, four police, 10 police [vehicles],\u201d said Philipp.<\/p>\n
At least two other vehicles were also hit by gunfire. The shooter would get away.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, it\u2019s making me cry right now. I mean, it\u2019s so close to my house,\u201d said a woman who lives nearby. \u201cI can\u2019t believe it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Officers shut down a portion of Northwest 13th Court while they investigated.<\/p>\n
Philipp said his son was born in Haiti, and his family moved to the United States when he was just a toddler. The victim leaves behind a child of his own: a 5-year-old girl.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m trying to be strong. Take it, take [the] life of something, somebody, that\u2019s painful. Today it\u2019s me, tomorrow it could be someone else,\u201d said Philipp.<\/p>\n
The grieving father said Mike was the first in their family to graduate and had a bright future ahead of him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was the only guy in my family to reach that level,\u201d said Philipp.<\/p>\n
But Philipp said he got caught up with the wrong crowd, which he believes led to this tragedy. He said the shooting was the culmination of a tense week during which his family\u2019s home was targeted.<\/p>\n
First, Philipp said, their tree was set on fire. Days later, they woke up to bullet holes in their house.<\/p>\n
Now, Philipp said, he and his family are hoping for peace and to find out why this happened.<\/p>\n
\u201cLife, it goes on. It\u2019s done; I try,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Menard family told 7News they are just trying to figure out what it was that made Mike go outside so early in the morning. They\u2019ve handed his phone over to detectives to hopefully get that answer.<\/p>\n
Mike\u2019s body was later removed from the scene by the medical examiner, and his car was towed away.<\/p>\n
As homicide detectives continue to investigate this shooting and search for the gunman, they encourage anyone with information to contact them.<\/p>\n
If you have any information on this shooting or the subject\u2019s whereabouts, call Fort Lauderdale Police at 954-828-5700 or Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.<\/p>\n
Copyright 2026 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.<\/p>\n
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