McDonald's employee arrested after targeted shooting injures man, his daughter in Broward, police say

Police in Hallandale Beach said they have made an arrest after a father and his 11-year-old daughter were injured in a shooting that took place in a McDonald's parking lot over the weekend.

Police said that the shooting investigation determined that it was a targeted incident that had originated just outside the fast food restaurant and ended in the McDonald's parking lot, on West Hallandale Beach Boulevard.

Hallandale Beach police said that the suspect, who has since been identified as 18-year-old Ralph N-Kosi Blue III, was reporting to work at the McDonald's and was the only person who opened fire.

"There was some criminal activity that had involved outside of the city between a gentleman that lives in Plantation, the 18-year-old that we arrested, that happened to work at our Hallandale," Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper said. "There's other criminals involved from Miramar. Apparently, their criminal activity led to retaliation, and the gentleman coming to approach this individual. He knew that they would be 'looking for him,' so he pulled a gun first."

The girl and her father, who had no connection to the dispute, were injured while they were in their car as the mother was inside the restaurant picking up food.

11-year-old girl remains in ICU as suspect appears in court

The father has since been released from the hospital, while the 11-year-old girl remains in stable condition in the intensive care unit, police said. Sources told CBS News Miami she was taken to Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital.

Mayor Cooper told CBS News Miami she was relieved the shooting was not even more devastating.

"These are the moments a Mayor prays will never happen," Cooper said. "I am proud of the quick response by the officers. I am so happy that there was not a tragedy and the father is out of the hospital and the child is recovering."

Hallandale police said that the investigation also showed that two other children, and 8-year-old and 2-year-old, were also in the vehicle at the time. Neither of them was injured.

Hallandale Beach police said they worked with the Broward Sheriff's Office after identifying Blue III as the suspect, and he was arrested without incident.

Blue III was charged with two counts of aggravated battery and two counts of aggravated assault.

Blue III later appeared in bond court, where he was ordered held without bond on the two aggravated battery charges. A judge also set a $1 million bond on the two aggravated assault charges, found probable cause for the charges, ordered that Blue III have no contact with the victims and prohibited him from possessing any weapons. Authorities also said he had been attending summer school.

He is currently being held at the Broward County Main Jail.

Surveillance video, 911 calls released as police seek additional suspects

Hallandale Beach police also released dramatic surveillance video of the shooting, which shows one person running through the McDonald's parking lot before another man pulls out a gun and begins firing. The person runs away as the alleged shooter enters the McDonald's restaurant.

Police also released 911 calls from witnesses, including one emotional caller who told dispatchers, "No, we do not see who is doing the shooting."

Mayor Cooper said investigators are still trying to identify and locate others connected to the incident and urged anyone with information to come forward.

"We want these criminals and I encourage anybody who knows them that these are violent criminals and we need to get them off the street and any information would be help," Cooper said.

Brad Ashlin, the owner and operator of the McDonald's, said the restaurant was "devastated" by the shooting.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the father and young daughter who were injured as well as their family during this difficult time," Ashlin said in a statement.

Ashlin said Blue III is no longer employed by the restaurant and that the company has been cooperating with investigators by providing surveillance video.

Anyone with information is asked to call Hallandale Beach Police at (954) 457-1400 or Broward Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS (8477).