Davie police say there is no active search for additional suspects as detectives examine vehicles and interview witnesses.
DAVIE, FL — One person was killed and another was critically injured Tuesday afternoon in a shooting outside the Aveda Institute along South University Drive, prompting a large police response and brief lockdowns at nearby schools, authorities said.
The shooting unfolded shortly after 2 p.m. in the parking lot of the cosmetology campus just north of Griffin Road. Davie Police and Fire Rescue arrived within minutes, finding two people with gunshot wounds and transporting one to a local hospital in critical condition. The second person was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators said they were not looking for additional suspects as of Tuesday evening, and the incident did not pose an ongoing threat to the wider community. Officials have not released names, ages or any relationship between the people involved.
Police tape sealed off the busy plaza as patrol officers, detectives and crime-scene technicians fanned across the lot and surrounding sidewalks. A portion of the Aveda parking area was cordoned as investigators examined at least two vehicles, including a white car with apparent bullet damage that was later covered by a tarp and towed away. “At 2:08 p.m., a report of a shooting was received at the Aveda Institute,” police spokesperson Julia Ross said. “Officers responded. They found two victims in the parking lot.” Clients and students inside the school were escorted out by officers with long guns as the building was cleared room by room.
Witnesses described a burst of gunfire and confusion. One client said stylists suddenly jumped from their chairs and shouted for people to move away from the windows. Another student recalled hearing a “code red” on a nearby campus radio as officers converged on the plaza. Several people said they saw police focus on two cars near the front entrance and direct evacuees to gather in a safe area behind the building. The Aveda Institute said it closed for the remainder of Tuesday and for at least part of Wednesday while cooperating with detectives. Nearby St. David Catholic School and Know-It-All Preparatory School were placed on temporary lockdowns that were lifted later in the afternoon.
Authorities have not said what set off the shooting, whether the people knew each other, or who fired the shots. Fire Rescue officials said one victim was transported in critical condition; police did not disclose the victim’s gender or age. By early evening, tow trucks had hauled away multiple vehicles as detectives collected shell casings and photographed the scene. Traffic along the 4100–4200 blocks of South University Drive was intermittently shut down and then reopened, with officers remaining in the lot into the night to speak with witnesses and canvass nearby businesses for surveillance video.
Davie, a Broward County town that sits between Griffin Road and Nova Drive near several schools and shopping centers, has seen large responses to isolated parking lot incidents in recent months, though mass shootings are uncommon within the town limits. The Aveda Institute, a cosmetology school that enrolls adults and hosts public salon services, anchors a retail strip that stays busy during afternoon hours. People who were inside said the sudden evacuation and sight of tactical rifles rattled clients and students who had not realized what happened until they were moved outside and told someone had died. The institute said safety remains its top priority and that it would support students and staff as the investigation proceeds.
Detectives are leading a criminal investigation with assistance from crime-scene units. The Broward Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an autopsy to confirm cause and manner of death. Police said next-of-kin notifications must be completed before any identities are released. Investigators planned to review store and traffic cameras along South University Drive and take formal statements from students, staff and customers who were present. Officials said there is no manhunt underway, and they expect to provide additional information after preliminary interviews and evidence reviews. No court filings or charges had been announced as of late Tuesday.
As the sun set, the lot gradually reopened and most cruisers rolled away, though a handful of detectives remained to map the scene. “It was chaos, and then it got very quiet,” said Monica May, who had been inside the salon area and later watched officers escort groups out with their hands raised. A student said people inside “huddled up near the desk” until police arrived to lead them out. Residents who live nearby described the response as swift but unsettling for an area lined with schools and churches.
As of Tuesday night, one person remained hospitalized in critical condition and the deceased victim’s name had not been released. Police said they would issue an update after confirming identities and completing initial interviews, expected by midweek.
Author note: Last updated January 28, 2026.