2 people and suspect dead, deputy hospitalized after Palm Beach ‘crime spree’: Sheriff

A suspect who’s believed to have fatally shot two people and injured a third was shot and killed by a deputy who he ran over during a deadly “crime spree” in Palm Beach County Wednesday night, authorities said.

The incident began around 10 p.m. when two people were found shot to death at a home in Pahokee near Lake Okeechobee in western Palm Beach County, Palm Beach Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said.

A short time later, another shooting was reported at another nearby home, and minutes after that, there was a shooting at a convenience store that left one person injured, Bradshaw said.

While a deputy and investigators were at one of the earlier shooting scenes, an SUV believed to be involved in the shootings returned.

A deputy was putting up crime scene tape when the suspect in the SUV left the roadway and struck the deputy, knocking him back about 40 feet as he hit the ground, Bradshaw said.

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office

Palm Beach Sheriff Ric Bradshaw holds a photo of a gun he said was recovered after a series of shootings in Pahokee on Feb. 25, 2026.

The suspect got out of the vehicle with a handgun and was going towards the deputy, but the deputy got his gun out and shot the suspect, killing him, Bradshaw said.

Another detective at the scene also opened fire but didn’t hit the suspect, Bradshaw said.

The deputy was hospitalized with an ankle fracture, among other injuries.

“He’s got a lot of bumps and bruises everywhere else but he’s very very lucky to be alive,” Bradshaw said.

The suspect was identified as 44-year-old Charles Curtis McLeod. Bradshaw said they’re “99 percent positive” he’s responsible for the shootings.

“This guy went on one hell of a crime spree tonight shooting people, killing them, and then obviously trying to kill our deputy, because it’s obvious what he did, he actually left the roadway on purpose and struck the deputy,” Bradshaw said.

A 9mm handgun used by McLeod was recovered at the scene, Bradshaw said.

Bradshaw said detectives are investigating the incident and any possible connection between McLeod and the victims.

Source link