Hureleyon McLean, Lauderdale Lakes, Florida man shot dead following dispute over loud music by neighbor who insists they acted in self defence.
An argument over loud music led to a 72 year old Florida man being fatally shot by his neighbor inside a gated community residence on Thanksgiving Day. The neighor has since claimed ‘self-defense’ as he ‘cooperates’ with authorities.
Hureleyon McLean, 72, was gunned down just after 3:30 p.m. in the Somerset Drive apartments in Lauderdale Lakes on Thursday, according to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office.
McLean had gone down to talk with the suspected shooter, who lives in the unit below his apartment, after the man reportedly complained about the music coming from above as the victim was preparing to celebrate Thanksgiving celebrations with his family and friends.
Self defense?
Police said an altercation broke out, leading to the unnamed suspect pulling out a gun and shooting McLean dead.
‘He was playing his music, and the guy said he was playing it too loud,’ McLean’s wife, Rose told NBC South Florida. ‘So my husband, he went down to him.’
The grieving wife said she was unaware her husband had gone downstairs but knew something was wrong when she heard a single gunshot.
‘I heard the gunshot, ‘boom,’ and I just fly to the door. I see my husband lying face down in the blood,’ the spouse told WSVN.
Rose McLean claimed the neighbor didn’t show remorse for the shooting and threatened her life if she didn’t stop talking.
‘He wasn’t sorry. He was just standing, looking at me with his gun in his hand the same way,’ she told the outlet. ‘And I go up to him and say, ‘Why did you shoot my husband? Why?’ And he said to me, ‘If I didn’t shut my mouth, he would shoot me, too.’’
‘My husband didn’t have any weapons, my husband didn’t even have a knife on him,’ the wife added.
McLean, a private bus driver, was a father of two sons and a grandfather.
‘Anywhere he is, I’m always with him. We’re like a team together. For him to be taken away like this, trust me, it’s very hard,’ said Rose.
McLean’s pastor, Tracy McCloud led a prayer circle with the victim’s family and friends outside the apartment as they waited for police to update them on what led up to the shooting.
‘It’s crazy how mankind has gotten to a place where we don’t honor life like we should honor,’ McCloud, told WSVN. ‘Who would have thought something tragic like this would happen?’
The suspected shooter remained at the scene and was cooperative when he was detained and interviewed by police.
He claimed self-defense in the shooting, police said according to NBC6.
Officials said the case will be handed over to the Broward County State Attorney’s Office after the investigation to determine if charges would be filed.
Lauderdale Lakes is located 32 miles north of downtown Miami.
