Fort Lauderdale food store worker arrested after allegedly opening fire on man and vehicle

Fort Lauderdale, Florida – A routine Sunday afternoon turned into a violent police investigation after a worker at a Fort Lauderdale food store allegedly opened fire on a man following an argument, authorities said. The incident left a vehicle damaged by gunfire and led to the arrest of a 44-year-old woman.

Police identified the suspect as Latoya Shanee Friday, who now faces two counts of aggravated assault. She was booked into Broward County jail following the incident, with officials noting that she appeared to smile in her booking photo after the arrest.

According to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, the confrontation happened around 2 p.m. at Primo’s Stop, a food store located at 2420 NW 19th St., just west of Rock Island Elementary School. The location quickly became the center of a police response after reports of gunfire in the area.

Investigators said the situation began when the victim entered the store while Friday was working inside. The two reportedly became involved in a verbal dispute, which escalated before the man left the store.

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Police said the situation did not end there. According to the report, the victim later returned to his vehicle parked outside and was preparing to step out again when the confrontation escalated further.

Authorities stated that at that moment, Friday “exited the store and began firing a pistol” toward the man and his vehicle. The gunfire struck the car multiple times, leaving visible damage.

At the time of the shooting, police said a 1-year-old child was inside the vehicle in the back seat. Fortunately, neither the victim nor the child was physically injured during the incident.

The presence of the child has added another layer of concern to the case, though investigators have not indicated any additional charges related to the minor at this time.

Following the shooting, officers took Friday into custody without further incident. She was later transported to jail and booked on aggravated assault charges.

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As of Monday evening, Friday was being held at the Broward Sheriff’s Office Paul Rein Detention Facility in Pompano Beach. Court records show her bond was set at $30,000.

Authorities have not released additional details about what led to the initial argument inside the store or whether surveillance footage may be used as part of the ongoing investigation.

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department continues to review evidence and witness statements as the case moves forward. Officials have not said whether more charges could be considered.

For now, the incident remains under active investigation, with prosecutors expected to review the case file in the coming days.