Police investigate deadly shooting and fire at Fort Lauderdale home with barricaded item – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL. (WSVN) – Fort Lauderdale Police are investigating a fatal shooting and fire at a home involving a barricaded person.

The incident happened just before 8:25 p.m. Thursday in the Northwest 27th Terrace and 18th Court area.

According to police, they initially responded to an emergency call about a shooting.

The caller turned out to be the victim’s son, who told dispatchers that his mother had been shot and was lying in a pool of blood.

“I have a murder to report… I don’t know. I was going to visit my mom and I walked in and there was my mom’s boyfriend sitting there and when I went up to him and asked him why, he pointed a gun at me,” Bass-Kemp’s son said. “He’s a military veteran, I know he’s licensed to wear or whatever.”

Police identified the suspect as 71-year-old Richard Kenneth McDonald.

The woman was later identified as 71-year-old Gwendolyn Bass-Kemp. She was a longtime employee of the City of Fort Lauderdale Fire Department, where she worked in the accounting department. She is also with Dr. Related to James Bass, the city’s first black dentist.

“She was nice, she came home and doesn’t bother anyone, just like me, just to hang out, no,” said a friend of the victim.

SWAT team negotiators tried to find a peaceful solution, but it was already too late.

McDonald left the house, still armed, and shot himself outside the house, officials said. A woman was also found dead in the home. Police believe it was a murder-suicide.

“When the suspect arrived at the scene, he immediately armed himself, barricaded himself in the home, and we believe he set the home on fire,” said Fort Lauderdale detective Ali Adamson. “Then he takes the gun, shoots himself and is dead.”

A friend of McDonald’s said he saw him early Thursday.

“He was a good guy,” said the friend. “Vietnam for 30 years, ride his boat, ride his motorbike.”

During the incident, neighboring homes were evacuated with the assistance of the Fort Lauderdale SWAT team. Firefighters were unable to enter the home until the situation was safe.

The fire was eventually contained and did not spread to surrounding properties.

7Skyforce hovered over the completely destroyed house when the firefighter returned to the scene on Friday.

According to neighbors, the two involved were not married, but lived in a domestic relationship. They had lived in the home for 14 years.

The City of Fort Lauderdale released a statement saying that she appreciates Bass-Kemp and that her thoughts and prayers are with her family.

Copyright 2023 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.