A robbery suspect was fatally shot by police at a Hallandale Beach business on Thursday afternoon.
The man had tried to take merchandise from a WalMart in Hallandale Beach with a knife and gun, authorities said.
"We heard all of these shots," Susan Bordas said. "Everybody was hitting the floor."
As patrons ate inside Acquo 124, Hallandale Beach police said a man was making a getaway after robbing a WalMart on Hallandale Beach Blvd. at 6 p.m.
His attempted escape ended about a mile away at Acquolone, where according to a police spokesperson, multiple police officers were forced to shoot the suspect as he got out of his getaway Lexus SUV.
"All of a sudden, someone said "get down" then we heard shots," customer Lillian Katzin said. "All I could think of was these recent shootings."
Katzin said that's when panic ensued inside.
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"I didn't know if someone came in and they were shooting. I didn't know if it was outside," Katzin said. "I didn't know anything."
After things calmed down and every customer inside was questioned, they were allowed to go home.
A Hallandale police spokesperson said they are still investigating whether or not the suspect fired his weapon, but are maintaining they were forced to shoot.
The identity of the accused WalMart robber has not been released.
