Fort Lauderdale, Florida — An Airbnb stay turned into a chaotic shooting Thursday evening after two armed men allegedly broke into a rental property, leading the renter to shoot one of the suspects in the chest, according to police.
The incident happened at approximately 6 p.m. local time on Thursday, Sept. 24, when officers with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department responded to reports of an attempted robbery. When police arrived, they found a man suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper torso.
Authorities identified the wounded suspect as 18-year-old Dareon Pubien, who allegedly entered the Airbnb with another armed man.
Police Say Two Armed Men Entered Airbnb
According to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, Pubien and another suspect allegedly broke into the Airbnb and became involved in an altercation with the renter.
During the confrontation, the renter shot Pubien in the chest. Pubien then reportedly fled the property on foot. Police later located him bleeding from his injuries near the home. Emergency responders transported Pubien to Broward Health Medical Center, where he underwent surgery.
He remained in critical but stable condition following the procedure, according to authorities. Police said Pubien is facing charges of attempted murder and home invasion with a firearm.
Second Suspect Also Arrested
Investigators also identified a second alleged participant in the incident as 25-year-old Sean Thompson. Thompson was arrested and faces the same charges as Pubien, including attempted murder and home invasion with a firearm.
He appeared in court Friday, Sept. 25, where a judge ordered him to remain in jail without bond, according to CBS Miami. Authorities have not publicly identified the Airbnb renter who fired the shot.
The renter’s role in the incident remains a central part of the investigation, particularly because police are currently treating the shooting as a possible self-defense case.
Police Investigate Self-Defense Claim
The Fort Lauderdale Police Department said the shooting is being investigated as a self-defense incident.
That means detectives will examine what happened immediately before the gunfire, including how the alleged home invasion unfolded, whether the suspects were armed, and what circumstances led the renter to fire the weapon.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the circumstances surrounding the shooting will ultimately depend on evidence gathered by investigators. No additional details about the renter’s actions have been publicly released.
Neighbor Describes Hearing Gunfire
The shooting created panic in the surrounding neighborhood, with one local resident describing a sudden burst of gunfire. Arthur Butler Jr. told that he heard “at least 10” gunshots coming from the home.
“It started off shooting inside the house, then it came out … everybody was running,” he said.
Butler also described what he observed around the property during the incident.
“They were trying to get over the gate, then they couldn’t get in the gate, then they went around the side and got in, but I didn’t know what was going on,” he told. “They walked up, I don’t know where they came from … I didn’t see anything … I just heard the shots.”
His account underscores how quickly the confrontation appeared to escalate and how little information nearby residents had about what was happening inside the property.
Investigation Remains Ongoing
The shooting has left one alleged home invasion suspect hospitalized and another facing serious criminal charges. Pubien remains hospitalized after being shot in the chest, while Thompson is being held without bond following his court appearance.
Meanwhile, detectives continue examining the circumstances surrounding the alleged break-in and the renter’s use of deadly force.
Because authorities are investigating the shooting as a possible act of self-defense, additional evidence and witness statements could help determine exactly what happened during the confrontation.
For now, police have not publicly identified the Airbnb renter or announced any charges against that person.
What do you think about this developing Florida case? Share your thoughts in the comments, and let us know how you think the investigation should proceed as authorities piece together what happened.
