Florida lieutenant shot and killed on lunch break with family

Lieutenant Rafael “Ray” Vazquez, 42, of Palm Beach County Fire Rescue was having lunch with his wife and child at the Wendy’s at Cherry Road and Military Trail around 12:18 p.m. Monday when he was shot and killed.

Vazquez was at the restaurant with his wife and daughter when he went back to the counter to get a forgotten toy, Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue Deputy Chief Steve Delai said. Delai said that that is when the shooter, who was described as a tall black man wearing a baseball cap and a business suit, reportedly walked out of the bathroom and shot the lieutenant, killing him.

The shooter was later identified as Alburn Edward Blake, 60, of West Palm Beach. Police said he was a maintenance worker, but did not work at Wendy’s.

“The toy was missing in the bag, so he had actually gone back inside Wendy’s to retrieve the toy that was supposed to be in the bag. We don’t believe that he ever knew what was happening. It appears as though he was the first one shot with the first bullet and died immediately,” Delai said.

Vazquez, formerly a Town of Lake Park firefighter, was hired in February 2001 and was promoted to Rescue Lieutenant in January 2007. He was currently assigned to Rescue 28 at Station 28 in Royal Palm Beach. His wife, an officer with Palm Springs Public Safety and their five children, ages 4 to 21, survive Vazquez. Services will be announced later this week.

A total of four others were shot during the incident, including a 65-year-old man and 62-year-old woman who were taken to Delray Medical Center in stable condition with non life-threatening injuries, Miller said.

A mother and her 16-year-old daughter were also injured in the shooting. Miller said that the teen, a freshman at Lake Worth High School, was shot in the arm and the mother, who was not shot, appears to have been injured while running away from the gunman. They are being treated at Good Samaritan Medical Center.

A 43-year-old man was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center in critical condition, Miller said. Witnesses said the sound of gunfire sent people running from the restaurant. Some people waiting in the drive-thru lane fled, leaving their cars running.

About 10 to 15 people were believed to be in the restaurant at the time of the shooting. No employees were hurt. A Wendy’s International Inc. spokesman said employees gave statements and surveillance video to investigators.

Witnesses Describe Scene

Ashley Milton, 28, said she had just opened the door to get lunch when she heard the “pop pop” of gunfire and saw people running.

“I really didn’t think that’s what it was. I thought this can’t be happening,” she said. “You see your life flash before your eyes.”

Sandra Jackson, 43, of Palm Springs, said she was across the street from the restaurant getting gas when the shooting started.

“I just saw a lady with a little boy in her arms come running out screaming ‘somebody’s shooting,”‘ Jackson said.

Jackson said several others came streaming out behind out the woman, who was hysterical because she said her husband was still inside.

Bob Bertini, a Wendy’s spokesman based in Dublin, Ohio, said the restaurant was company owned and the chain was cooperating with the sheriff’s office.