A 64-year-old man identified by authorities as the mother’s boyfriend was arrested on two first-degree murder charges.
POMPANO BEACH, FL — A mother and daughter killed in a shooting outside a Pompano Beach home have been identified as 66-year-old Suzanne Travers Courtade and 23-year-old Meghan Courtade, while a man found at the scene has been arrested on two counts of first-degree murder, authorities said.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office said deputies and Pompano Beach Fire Rescue were called to the 1500 block of Southwest Fifth Avenue at about 7:21 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12. Deputies found both women unresponsive outside the residence with apparent gunshot wounds. They were pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives later arrested David Keith Thornton, 64, who authorities identified as Suzanne Courtade’s boyfriend.
According to the sheriff’s office, Thornton came out of the residence as deputies approached and was detained for questioning. Investigators said witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots and seeing Thornton with an object in his hand during the incident. Thornton is accused of killing both women, but the allegations have not been proven in court.
Detectives said three firearms were visible during their initial investigation, including two inside the home and another inside a van parked in front of the residence. Authorities obtained search warrants for the home and vehicle and later seized the guns along with seven spent shell casings as evidence. The sheriff’s office has not announced a motive for the shooting.
Additional details contained in an arrest report and reported by CBS News Miami indicate Suzanne Courtade made an emergency call after discovering that her daughter had been shot. The report said the call captured escalating events outside the home before additional gunfire was heard. Several other 911 calls were made by people in the neighborhood, according to the report. Investigators also interviewed witnesses who said they saw Thornton outside during the incident.
Thornton was taken to Broward County’s Main Jail after his arrest and was being held without bond, according to the arrest report cited by CBS News Miami. Authorities charged him with two counts of first-degree premeditated murder. Court records detailing a plea or future hearing schedule were not immediately available in the reports reviewed Saturday.
Suzanne Courtade worked in human resources for the town of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, according to local officials and people who knew her. Mayor Edmund Malkoon said in a statement reported by CBS News Miami that Courtade was a valued member of the town staff whose kindness and dedication had affected many people in the community. Friends and coworkers also described Suzanne and Meghan Courtade as close and said they often spent time together.
Neighbors placed flowers and candles outside the home Friday as word of the killings spread. Douglas Newton, a longtime neighbor interviewed by local television stations, described the family as friendly and said the violence came as a shock to people who knew them. Authorities have not released information suggesting there had been earlier police calls or publicly documented trouble at the residence connected to the shooting.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit continues to investigate the killings and has not publicly identified a motive. Detectives are examining witness accounts, firearms and other evidence collected from the property as the criminal case against Thornton moves forward.
Author note: Last updated November 14, 2026.