Fort Lauderdale release bodycam of a wild shootout inside a motel hotel room
By: Newly released body camera footage captured the moment, police said, officers were forced to fire on a man at a Fort Lauderdale hotel.
The incident occurred at the Holiday Inn Express located at 1500 SE 17th St. Cswy., March 21.
According to preliminary investigations, Fort Lauderdale Police received a 911 text at approximately 7:39 a.m. from a man in a hotel room.
“Go ahead, 10-4 referencing to the 13 (suspicious) incident. Caller stating he has guns and will start shooting at whoever is at his front door,” a dispatcher said in radio transmissions.
The suspect, later identified as 44-year-old Karl Chludinsky, also alleged that his wife had been sexually assaulted and threatened to harm anyone who approached his room.
The bodycam footage shows the moment responding officers attempted to make contact with Chludinsky.
“It’s the police. Come out, come out with your hands up!” said FLPD Officer Jack DiCristofalo.
Chludinsky, a Margate resident, claiming he had killed someone in the room, but he was actually alone inside.
“Hands up, Hands up! Let me see your hands! Let me see your hands! Let me see your hands!” said DiCristofalo.
When he opened the door, officers noticed he was holding a gun and opened fire.
“Gun, gun, gun!” said DiCristofalo after officers discharged their firearms.
Investigators said Chludinsky fired back at the officers through the hotel room door.
Multiple shots were fired again. During the gunfire, DiCristofalo was struck.
“Hey, I’m hit. I’m hit pretty good,” DiCristofalo said.
A picture showed the suspect’s bullet lodged in DiCristofalo’s vest, likely saving his life.
FLPD said that upon entry, Chludinsky was found dead. Police said that no other individuals were present in the room at the time.
The harrowing shootout happened as spring breakers converged in Fort Lauderdale. It snarled traffic on the 17th Street Causeway for hours.
DiCristofalo suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to Broward Health Medical Center with injuries that were serious but not life-threatening. He was released the same day.
FLPD Officer Pascal France suffered minor injuries unrelated to gunfire and was treated at the scene.