In the early morning hours of September 20, 2026, a house party in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, took a tragic turn, ending the life of 34-year-old Julmice Belone of Fort Lauderdale. What began as a social gathering descended into chaos when a verbal altercation escalated, resulting in gunfire. The incident, which occurred near the 3100 block of Northwest 37th Street, left one man dead and another wounded, shattering the festive atmosphere and leaving a community in shock.
The Broward Sheriff's Office received a 911 call reporting the shooting at approximately 3:28 a.m. When deputies arrived at the scene, they discovered a man suffering from a gunshot wound and immediately began to render aid before he was transported to a local hospital by Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue. Shortly after, investigators learned that a second victim, later identified as Julmice Belone, had been transported to a nearby hospital in a private vehicle. Tragically, Belone was pronounced dead at the hospital.
In the wake of the shooting, the individual responsible for the gunfire remained at the scene and was detained by law enforcement for questioning. This individual was later released. The preliminary investigation by the Broward Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit revealed that the shooting may have occurred in the context of self-defense. A third person involved in the incident reported to detectives that they were attempting to de-escalate the initial verbal dispute when the shooting occurred, and that the shooter acted to defend themselves. This individual also sustained minor injuries during the altercation. The Broward Sheriff's Office is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Julmice Belone's death. Once their investigation is complete, the case will be presented to the Broward County State Attorney's Office for review to determine if any charges will be filed. The identities of the other individuals involved in the shooting have not been publicly released.
