A Thursday night shooting in Pompano Beach, Florida, has left a 66-year-old mother and her 23-year-old daughter dead. David Keith Thornton, who was initially detained for questioning, has now been arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the killings of Suzanne Courtade and Meghan Courtade.
The deadly incident happened around 8 p.m. Thursday, November 12, near an apartment complex in the 1500 block of Southwest Fifth Avenue. Deputies with the Broward Sheriff’s Office were sent to the area after receiving reports of gunfire.
When deputies reached the scene, they found Suzanne, 66, and Meghan, 23, outside a home with gunshot wounds. Fire rescue crews arrived shortly afterward, but both women were pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators initially detained a man while they tried to establish what had happened. That man was later identified as Thornton. Authorities subsequently announced his arrest and the two first-degree murder charges.
However, several important questions remain unanswered. The sheriff’s office has not explained what happened immediately before the shooting, whether there was an argument or confrontation, or what might have motivated the killings.
The sound of gunfire caught the attention of people living nearby. Some neighbors initially believed they were hearing fireworks rather than gunshots. The incident happened while many residents were inside their homes preparing for the evening.
A neighbor named Sherry told CBS Miami that she was sitting inside with others as they got ready for the football game when they heard several popping sounds. “We were sitting inside getting ready for the football game and just heard a couple of pops,” she said. According to Sherry, police and deputies arrived within seconds.
Sherry said the neighborhood had generally been quiet throughout the 20 years she had lived there. She described herself as shocked by the shooting, which brought a deadly crime scene to an area she had long considered peaceful.
The two women killed were identified as Suzanne and Meghan Courtade, a mother and daughter who both lived in Pompano Beach. Their deaths turned what began as an ordinary evening into a double homicide investigation.
Thornton now faces two counts of first-degree murder. Authorities have not released additional information about the events leading up to the shooting or a possible motive. The investigation remains under the Broward Sheriff’s Office.
Although the arrest marks a major development in the case, the charges remain allegations. Thornton is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. Investigators have yet to provide further details about the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Suzanne and Meghan.