In a shocking turn of events, a man who called the police to report a murder in his hotel room near Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale was shot and killed by officers. The incident took place at the Holiday Inn Express on the 17th Street Causeway, causing chaos and bringing the area to a standstill.

According to Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Bill Schultz, three officers entered the suspect's room after unsuccessful attempts to communicate with him. Upon confrontation, an exchange of gunfire occurred, resulting in one officer sustaining non-life-threatening injuries. The wounded officer was rushed to Broward Health Medical Center for treatment, while another officer received minor injuries.

The suspect, whose identity was not disclosed but described as a local resident, barricaded himself in the room after the initial encounter with the officers. A SWAT team was later deployed and found the suspect dead. No one else was present in the room at the time.

The investigation into the incident has been handed over to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which is standard protocol for police-involved shootings. The three officers who discharged their weapons during the encounter will be placed on administrative leave, as per standard procedure.

The unfolding incident triggered a massive police presence in the area, causing disruptions and forcing guests at the Holiday Inn Express Fort Lauderdale Cruise Airport to seek refuge in an event room. Witnesses reported being alerted of an active shooter situation, and the presence of bullet holes in windows above the pool deck confirmed the intensity of the situation.

Eyewitness accounts painted a picture of chaos and fear. Guests, like Alexis Boettcher of Cleveland, Ohio, were caught off guard and forbidden from re-entering the building due to the active shooter situation. Others, like Alejandro Morales, who had just arrived for a gaming tournament at the nearby Broward Convention Center, found themselves stranded as their Uber got stuck amidst the commotion.

While the investigation continues to unfold, it is unclear what motivated the suspect's actions and the details surrounding the alleged murder he had reported. Authorities are expected to release updates as more information becomes available, shedding light on this tragic incident that unfolded on Thursday morning in Fort Lauderdale.