Suspect Arrested After Man Found Shot at Pompano Beach Gas Station

A 53-year-old man was arrested after another man was found suffering from a gunshot wound near a gas station in Pompano Beach Thursday night, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office.

The August 20, 2026 shooting reportedly followed an altercation between the two men. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

What Happened in the Pompano Beach Shooting?

According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded at approximately 7:45 p.m. to the area of 220 South Dixie Highway after receiving reports of a shooting.

When deputies arrived, they found a man who had been shot.

Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue personnel transported the victim to a local hospital. Authorities have not released his identity, the severity of his injuries or additional information about his condition.

Deputies located 53-year-old Zalim Bacchus inside the business and detained him.

Investigators later determined that an altercation had occurred between Bacchus and the victim before the shooting.

Bacchus was subsequently arrested on an aggravated battery charge. The Broward Sheriff’s Office said the investigation remains ongoing.

Investigators Working to Determine Circumstances Surrounding Shooting

Authorities have released few details about what allegedly led to the confrontation or how the shooting unfolded.

As the investigation continues, detectives may examine evidence such as surveillance footage from the gas station and surrounding businesses, witness statements, physical evidence recovered from the scene and accounts provided by the people involved.

Gas stations and convenience stores frequently have multiple surveillance cameras covering entrances, parking areas, fuel pumps and cash registers. If footage exists, it could provide investigators with important evidence regarding what occurred immediately before, during and after the shooting.

The currently available information does not indicate what prompted the altercation.

Businesses Have a Duty to Maintain Reasonably Safe Premises

Under Florida premises liability law, businesses generally have a duty to take reasonable measures to protect lawful visitors from foreseeable dangers.

In cases involving violent criminal activity, an important question can be whether the property owner or operator knew or reasonably should have known about a dangerous condition or foreseeable risk of criminal activity and failed to take reasonable precautions.

However, the fact that a shooting occurred on or near commercial property does not automatically mean the property owner was negligent.

Determining whether premises liability could apply would require examining the specific circumstances surrounding the property and shooting.

When Can a Business Potentially Be Liable for a Shooting?

Potential liability following a shooting at a business can depend heavily on whether the violent incident was reasonably foreseeable and whether reasonable security measures were in place.

An investigation might examine factors such as prior violent incidents or criminal activity at the property, previous calls for police assistance, security personnel, lighting, surveillance systems, access controls and whether management was aware of escalating threats before the shooting.

For example, if employees knew that a confrontation was escalating and had a reasonable opportunity to take precautions, those circumstances could potentially become relevant.

There is currently no information indicating that the business involved in Thursday night’s incident failed to provide adequate security or otherwise contributed to the shooting.

Negligent Security Claims in Florida

Negligent security is a type of premises liability claim that can arise when inadequate security measures contribute to a foreseeable criminal attack.

Depending on the circumstances, an injured person may potentially pursue compensation from a negligent property owner, operator or other responsible party in addition to any claims involving the person accused of committing the violent act.

These cases are highly fact-specific. Simply showing that a crime occurred is generally not enough to establish that the property owner should be held responsible.

Evidence concerning previous incidents, property conditions and security practices can therefore become particularly important.

Compensation After a Serious Shooting Injury

A person seriously injured in a shooting may face emergency medical care, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation and significant time away from work.

When another person’s wrongful conduct or a property owner’s negligence contributes to those injuries, a civil claim may potentially seek compensation for applicable losses, including medical expenses, future medical treatment, lost income, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, disability and other damages available under Florida law.

Whether any civil claim exists in this case will depend on the evidence and circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Preserving Evidence Following a Shooting at a Commercial Property

Evidence from businesses can sometimes be overwritten or lost relatively quickly, particularly surveillance video.

Potentially relevant evidence following a shooting may include:

• Security camera recordings
• Photographs and videos from witnesses
• 911 calls and dispatch records
• Witness contact information
• Police reports
• Records of previous incidents at the property
• Security policies and procedures
• Employee statements
• Physical evidence collected by investigators

Preserving available evidence can help establish how an incident occurred and whether another party could potentially bear civil responsibility.

Investigation Into Pompano Beach Gas Station Shooting Continues

The Broward Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the Thursday night shooting near 220 South Dixie Highway in Pompano Beach.

Authorities said the victim was transported to a local hospital after being found with a gunshot wound. Investigators determined that an altercation had occurred between the victim and 53-year-old Zalim Bacchus before the shooting.

Bacchus was arrested on an aggravated battery charge. Authorities have not released further details about the victim’s condition or the circumstances leading to the confrontation.