Stray bullet fired from Florida fairground hits woman at assisted living facility

MARGATE, Fla. — A bullet fired from the grounds of a South Florida fair traveled into an assisted living facility, where it struck the foot of a 91-year-old resident, authorities said Thursday.

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The gun was discharged from the Broward County Fair and traveled more than 200 yards into Waterside Landing, a nearby senior facility, the Sun-Sentinel reported.

The woman, whose name has not been released, is expected to survive, and the fair, which was expected to open Thursday, will go on, according to the newspaper. She was taken to an area hospital injuries not considered life-threatening, according to WTVJ.

Brandon Lucas Craig, 40, of West Palm Beach, was charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, battery and carrying a concealed weapon, according to Broward County Sheriff’s Office online booking records.

According to police, Craig was working one of the carnival games for the fair operators and got into an argument at about 4:30 a.m. EST, WTVJ reported.

Police said Lucas pulled out a gun and fired a shot in the air, which entered the first floor of the assisted living facility, according to WPLG.

“The injury was not life-threatening,” Lt. Alain Banatte, a spokesperson for the Margate Police Department, told the Sun-Sentinel.

Craig has been fired, fair spokesperson Mitchell Pellecchia told the newspaper.

“To ensure the safety of fairgoers and as initially planned, the Margate Police Department will be continuously patrolling the fairgrounds throughout the upcoming weeks to deter any further incidents and avoid any potential risks to public safety,” Margate Mayor Antonio Arserio said in a statement.

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