Derek Willard, a 26-year-old resident of Pompano Beach, Florida, tragically lost his life on October 31, 2016. The incident occurred in the early hours of Halloween, around 12:20 a.m., in the parking lot of the Play-by-Play Sports Bar & Lounge on Cypress Creek Road. Willard was found bleeding in the parking lot by Broward Sheriff's Office deputies and was subsequently transported to Broward Health North, where he was pronounced dead.
An autopsy revealed that Willard had been shot at least four times.
The events leading up to the shooting began when Willard was asked to leave the bar due to his disruptive behavior, which included cursing at a bartender and harassing other patrons. After being escorted out, Willard returned to the parking lot a few minutes later and parked his car near where Gerald Carey, 26, and two other individuals were gathered. Carey, along with Dalton Carlton, 25, went back inside the bar briefly before returning to confront Willard. Carey then shot Willard multiple times as he stood by his car. Despite attempting to flee, Willard was pursued by Carey and Carlton, with Carey firing another shot before they separated.
The investigation into Willard's death led to the arrest of Gerald Carey and Dalton Carlton. Carey was charged with first-degree premeditated murder, while Carlton faced charges of being an accessory to first-degree murder after the fact and possession of marijuana. Surveillance footage from the bar and nearby establishments played a crucial role in identifying the suspects and reconstructing the sequence of events. The footage showed Carey firing the shots and Carlton running alongside him, holding the gun at one point.
Witness statements and a Crimestoppers tip further corroborated the evidence against Carey and Carlton. One witness reported hearing Willard say, "My homeboys shot me," moments after he was struck by gunfire. Both suspects were held without bond as they awaited trial. The case highlighted the senseless nature of the violence, with detectives believing the shooting to be unprovoked. The legal proceedings and investigations surrounding Derek Willard's death underscored the community's efforts to seek justice for the young man whose life was abruptly and violently ended.
