HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. — An 18-year-old McDonald’s employee has been arrested after a shooting outside a South Florida restaurant left a father and his 11-year-old daughter injured, authorities said.
Police said the shooting happened Saturday afternoon in the parking lot of a McDonald’s located on West Hallandale Beach Boulevard. Investigators determined the incident was connected to a targeted dispute that began outside the city and later ended at the restaurant.
The victims were not involved in the confrontation, according to police. The father and his daughter were sitting inside an SUV while the girl’s mother was inside the restaurant picking up food when gunfire erupted.
Authorities identified the suspect as Ralph N-Kosi Blue III. Police said Blue was reporting to work at the restaurant at the time of the shooting and investigators believe he was the only person who fired shots during the incident.
The father and daughter were transported to a nearby hospital after being struck by gunfire. Police said the father has since been released, while the child remains in stable condition. Two other children who were inside the vehicle were not injured.
Blue was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated battery and two counts of aggravated assault. Authorities said he was being held at the Broward County Main Jail while the case moved forward.
Police said the investigation remains active and detectives are continuing to look into the events that led to the shooting, including whether additional people were involved. Officials are asking anyone with information to contact the Hallandale Beach Police Department.
The restaurant operator said the business was cooperating with investigators and expressed support for the injured family following the incident.
Authorities have described the father and daughter as innocent bystanders caught in the middle of a violent confrontation that was unrelated to them.
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