WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A 22-year-old man surrendered to authorities Tuesday night, hours after he shot a West Palm Beach police officer who was responding to an altercation at a home, the police department confirmed.
Online jail records show Emmanuel Keevon Dachawn McRae is being held at the Palm Beach County Main Detention Center.
According to an arrest warrant, officers responded to the home in the 300 block of Baker Drive just after 2 a.m. Tuesday after a woman called 911 and said two Black males were fighting inside the house, one of whom was armed with a gun.
West Palm Beach Police Chief Tony Araujo told reporters at the scene Tuesday that officers were shot at when they arrived and the officers returned fire.
Araujo confirmed that one officer was struck in his ballistic vest and was taken to a local hospital. The officer, identified as Cristian Caraballo Padillo, has since been released.
“Anybody that goes through a traumatic incident like that, even as a law enforcement officer, it’s a lot to deal with,” Adam Myers, the president of the West Palm Beach Fraternal Order of Police, said.
According to the arrest warrant, after Caraballo announced himself outside the home, and said, “If you’re out here, announce yourself -- Do it now,” McRae walked out onto the driveway toward the officer and rapidly fired at least 10 rounds.
The warrant states that the shooting was captured on Caraballo’s body-worn camera, which also shows the officer telling McRae, “Show me your hands!”
The West Palm Beach Police Department’s ShotSpotter recorded an initial 11 gunshots, followed by a second volley of 11 additional gunshots, the warrant states.
5:30 p.m. report
According to the warrant, Caraballo and another officer returned fire before taking cover across the street.
Caraballo was eventually transported to Good Samaritan Hospital by another officer who responded to the scene.
“It’s just reassuring -- it’s what we already know every day -- that the officers that are on the street are there to back each other up,” Myers said.
According to the warrant, a witness told officers that the home is occupied by at least five people who rent separate rooms.
He said he heard a commotion outside his bedroom, and then saw his roommate, Isiah Tysinger, 35, engaged in a physical altercation with an unknown male, later identified as McRae.
According to the witness, Tysinger had McRae in a chokehold and told him to disarm McRae.
The witness said he grabbed the gun, which was near McRae’s left leg, and hid it in his room, wrapping it in blankets.
The witness said he then saw McRae leaving through the front door and immediately begin shooting northward across the driveway, in the direction of the officers.
According to the warrant, Tysinger told officers that McRae is his brother and that McRae had stored multiple guns in his bedroom.
He said they got into the fight after he told his brother to collect his belongings, including the guns, and leave the home.
According to the warrant, the brothers’ mother arrived at the home during the fight and separated her sons, pushing Tysinger into his bedroom and moving McRae toward the front door.
Tysinger said he heard numerous gunshots outside and didn’t see the shooter, but “assumed it was McRae acting recklessly,” the warrant stated.
Jail records show McRae is facing two counts of attempted first-degree murder on a law enforcement officer in connection with the shooting.
A swarm of West Palm Beach police officers were in the courtroom Wednesday for McRae’s first court appearance, including Caraballo.
“I think anybody that’s a victim of a crime wants to see the person responsible for it held accountable,” Myers said.
Myers told reporters after the hearing that Caraballo’s vest was effective, but he still suffered blunt force trauma to his torso.
“He is good,” Myers said. “As best as he can with the injury he sustained and just trying to recover.”
“It’s a stark reminder of the dangers all police officers in our community and around the country face every day whenever they are willing to run into danger and, you know, put themselves in harm’s way to protect others,” he added.
McRae was ordered held without bond.
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