BSO Case Number: BS09-03-1678 PIO Number: 09-3-13 Date: March 7, 2009 Time: 11:10 p.m. Jurisdiction: Central Broward Place of Occurrence: 2436 SW 42 Avenue, unincorporated Central Broward Victim(s):

  • Carlos R. Gonzalez, 18, 10/30/90, male, 2436 SW 42 Avenue, apt. 1, near Fort Lauderdale (DECEASED)
Suspect(s):

  • Anthony Cruz, 28, 10/30/80, male, 2436 SW 42 Avenue, apt. 1, near Fort Lauderdale
Description of Incident:

A verbal argument regarding nationalities turned physical and ended with a fatal stabbing between two friends Saturday night in the parking lot of an apartment complex where the men lived in Central Broward. The suspect was captured Sunday afternoon with the valuable assistance of Hollywood PD.

The deadly encounter occurred March 7, shortly after 11p.m. at 2436 SW 42 Avenue near Fort Lauderdale. Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies, who responded to the location regarding a fight, found the victim, Carlos Gonzalez, unresponsive in his apartment, where he ran for help after being stabbed. Gonzalez was transported to Broward General Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at approximately 12:10 a.m. Sunday.

Witnesses told BSO homicide detectives that Gonzalez and one of his roommates, Anthony Cruz, were arguing over their nationalities [Gonzalez is Salvadorian and Cruz is Honduran] when Cruz stabbed Gonzalez in the parking lot with a kitchen knife.
The Broward Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death a homicide. BSO homicide detectives obtained a murder arrest warrant for 28-year-old Cruz. Detectives also received a tip that Cruz was last seen in Hollywood. A perimeter was set up, and a Hollywood K-9 officer spotted Cruz walking in the area of Washington Street and 411 shortly after 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Cruz was taken into custody and questioned at the Public Safety Building before he was booked at BSO’s Main Jail on the murder charge. He is being held without bond.

INVESTIGATORS: Homicide Sgt. G. Bukata, RID and Homicide Det. J. Ventura THIS REPORT BY: Veda Coleman-Wright/PIO Central Broward March 8, 2009 1510 Source: Broward County Sheriffs Office