CORAL SPRINGS, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2023) — Coral Springs Police arrest Chase Harder, a Fort Lauderdale Police Detention Officer, for the shooting death of someone in Coral Springs on Tuesday evening.
Coral Springs Police responded to a shots fired call near the 9200 block of Ramblewood Drive at 8:26 PM on Tuesday, August 15th, 2023. First responding officers found a deceased victim who had multiple gunshot wounds.
Detectives learned that just after the shooting, a witness saw a white man, later identified as Chase Harder, carrying a child over his shoulder and fleeing the scene, following the shooting. Harder was said to have then left the scene in a white Mercedes SUV. Investigators were able to get the license plate of the SUV, likely from a nearby traffic camera, and identified Harder as a suspect.
Investigators with the Coral Springs Police Department say that Harder dropped the child off at the child’s biological father’s home before then turning himself in to Police custody. Detectives say Harder admitted to the shooting. Harder was arrested and charged with one count of Premeditated Murder and one count of Written Threats to Kill or Do Bodily Injury.
Fort Lauderdale Police Department tells Boca Post that Harder was hired as a Detention Officer in 2022. Fort Lauderdale PD released the following statement, regarding the incident:
The details surrounding these allegations are very difficult to hear and do not reflect the character and professionalism expected of the men and women of our agency. As a result of this arrest, Harder has been placed on administrative leave without pay pending further investigation. We extend our deepest condolences to those affected by this horrific incident.
