UPDATE: Suspect Arrested, Victim Identified In Shooting Near Delray Beach Dunkin Donuts

The victim survived, and the suspect was arrested.

UPDATE

We have confirmed that an arrest has been made. The victim has been identified as 49-year-old Dempsey Francois. The suspect, identified as 18-year-old Romelo Barnes, has been arrested for attempted 1st-degree murder and is now in the custody of the PBSO jail.

According to investigators with the Delray Beach Police Department, Police responded to the area of the Dunkin Donuts on 1425 South Congress Ave after several calls of a shooting. Arriving officers found Francois suffering from a single gunshot wound. Francois said that the shooting was the result of an argument he got into with Barnes inside the Linton Blvd Coin Laundromat nearby.

Witnesses at the laundry mat confirmed that Francois and Barnes had been arguing in the business before the shooting. A witness said he heard the “younger” boy (Barnes) state to Francois “I am going to go home and get my gun.”

After the shooting, witnesses say they observed the suspect run into nearby Rainbow Homes development.

Detectives were able to obtain video of the entire incident. A security guard who works in the plaza told Police he is very familiar with both individuals as he had multiple face-to-face encounters with them over the years.

Originally reported by Boca Post

DELRAY BEACH, FL – Boca Post (BocaPost.com) — At least one person has been shot and is in critical condition after being shot at the Dunkin Donuts located at 1465 S. Congress Ave in Delray Beach.

A large Police and Fire Rescue can be seen at the Dunkin Donuts due to reports of a shooting at the Dunkin. According to our sources, the shooting happened at around 7:30 AM on Friday, December 23rd, 2022.

Sources close to the incident tell Boca Post that the scene was considered secure just after 7:35 am. That is when Fire Rescue made contact with one victim who they say was shot in the stomach area. That patient, identified as a 49-year-old man, was transported to Delray Medical Center as a trauma alert.

Delray Beach Police tell Boca Post that there is no suspect in custody at this time. DBPD reports that the shooting was the result of an argument between two men.

Developing Story

This is a developing story. We will update you here with more information as it becomes available.

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