Man shot in his minivan

First homicide in LHP in 11 years

LIGHTHOUSE POINT — A Lighthouse Point man was killed Friday after someone fired two bullets through his minivan window, the Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office said.

The dead man was Karl Wolfer, 54, the Broward Sheriff’s Office said. During the fatal assault, his white Dodge minivan had been parked in front of his townhome in the 2700 block ofNortheast 27th Court.

Art Fitzgerald, 52, lives several units away from where Wolfer was found and said he heard two gunshots at 2:15 a.m.

“I didn’t really thinkmuch of it and went to bed and was woken up this morning by an morning phone call, saying to gowalk outside,” Fitzgerald said. “I walked outside to a murder scene.”

Wolfermoved in to the community about a month ago, Fitzgerald said. He said he didn’t know Wolfer well, but would say hello when they saw each other.

“I spoke with him last night as we were taking the garbage out,” Fitzgerald said. “Nice guy.”

As detectives examined evi- dence, the minivan, with red evidence tape on the doors, was towed away from the row of townhomesnear the city’s marina.

It was the first homicide in Lighthouse Point in11years, the medical examiner’s office said.

Aman at the townhomewho said he was a relative, said Wolfer had served in the U.S. Marines.

Broward Sheriff’s spokesearly

woman Gina Carter declined to discuss why Wolfer was killed.

“Right now, it’s really too early to say why this murder happened, what were the motives,” Carter said.

Lighthouse Point is a small city of 2.5 square miles and has its own police department, but relies on the sheriff’s office for homicide investigations.

Lighthouse Point Fire Rescue was called to the home at about 4:50 a.m. but did not take anyone to a hospital, Chief David Donzella said.

In 2010, the city installed 26 license plate recognition cameras that record tags on vehicles as they arrive and depart.

License plates are instantly compared with state and federal databases for tags linked to stolen cars, fugitives and people under restraining orders, the agency said then.

A city police spokesman declined to comment on the investigation that the sheriff’s office is leading.

Without addressing whether the camera footage was being reviewed in the investigation, Carter from BSO said, “Detectives are looking at every piece of information to determine whowas here.”

Tina Jerabek, 58, lives across the street from the homicide scene.

“Nothing ever happens here,” she said.

The sheriff’s office asks anyone with information about the case to call Detective Barbara Dyer at 954-321-4210. Anonymous tips will also be accepted by Broward County Crime Stoppers, at 954-493-8477 or online, at browardcrimestoppers.org. Callers who provide information that leads to an arrest are eligible for a reward of up to $3,000.

ljtrischitta@sunsentinel.com, 954-356-4233 or Twitter@LindaTrischitta