911 Calls Released in Marine Shooting

Calls released in Lt. Col.'s shooting in Deerfield Beach

Authorities on Thursday released the 911 calls of the near-fatal encounter between a Miramar Marine and the gun-wielding robber who shot him over a gold chain earlier this month.

Marine Lt. Col Karl Trenker had been trying to sell a gold necklace through Craigslist and had agreed to meet a buyer at a Deerfield Beach apartment complex on Dec. 21 when he was approached by two men who grabbed the chain and took off running.

Trenker gave chase and one of the suspects opened fire.

"There's a shooting, there's a shooting in Deerfield," the first 911 caller tells the operator. "10 shots, at least 10 shots...I don't know who was shooting, maybe the guy who was chasing him or maybe him."

Hit by at least three shots, the tough Marine gave up the pursuit and made his way back to his truck, where his kids had been waiting. At that point he's helped by another man who calls 911 for help.

"How old does he look like he is?" the operator asks the second caller.

"He's a..I don't know, 30...How old are you?" the caller asks Trenker. "49. He's in great shape."

Trenker was taken to North Broward Medical Center, where he is set to have a news conference Friday.

“I can’t believe it, I go to Iraq and Afghanistan multiple times and I haven’t been shot or blown up,” Trenker said Friday. “I’m here at home in Florida, and here I am riding away in an ambulance with a bunch of gunshot wounds.”

Police have charged Jeff Steele and James Flounory, both 20, with attempted murder and armed robbery in the shooting. Authorities say Steele shot Trenker.

“If he didn’t have a pistol I would’ve whipped his butt," Trenker said.
 

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