Police said two armed men entered the rental home before the occupant fought back, leaving one suspect critically injured and both in custody.
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — A man staying at a Fort Lauderdale Airbnb shot an alleged armed intruder during a confrontation inside the rental home Thursday evening, police said, leaving one suspect hospitalized in critical but stable condition and another in custody.
Fort Lauderdale police said officers responded shortly after 6 p.m. to a reported armed home invasion near Northwest 19th Avenue and Eighth Street. Investigators said two armed men entered the residence while the renter was inside. A confrontation followed, and police said the renter managed to shoot one of the alleged intruders. Authorities described the renter’s actions as self-defense.
The two men fled the home after the shooting, according to police. Detectives later located the wounded suspect a short distance away. Police identified him as 18-year-old Dareon Publien. He was taken to a hospital, underwent surgery and was listed in critical but stable condition Friday morning.
Investigators identified the second suspect as 25-year-old Sean Ian Thompson. Police said Thompson was also located and taken into custody. Authorities said they were not searching for additional suspects as of Friday.
Police said Publien and Thompson are expected to face charges of attempted felony murder and home invasion with a firearm. Publien is expected to be taken to the Broward County Jail after he is released from the hospital, police said. The charges are allegations, and the case has not been adjudicated.
Initial reports Thursday night offered a less complete picture of the confrontation. Police and crime scene investigators spent hours at the residence collecting evidence and interviewing people. Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue transported the wounded man to Broward Health Medical Center. Police initially described the shooting as an isolated incident while detectives worked to determine what had happened.
Police radio traffic from the response indicated that at least one person involved may have been carrying a rifle-style weapon. Dispatch communications also referred to people leaving the area in a dark vehicle. Authorities had not initially confirmed the circumstances described in those radio transmissions, and investigators continued working to establish who was involved.
By Friday, police said their investigation indicated that two armed men had entered the Airbnb while the renter was inside. Investigators said the renter fought back and shot one of them. Police have not publicly identified the renter, and no charges against the renter were announced in the latest reports.
The gunfire drew the attention of people living nearby. Area resident Arthur Butler said he heard numerous shots before seeing people run from the area. Other residents interviewed after the shooting expressed differing views about safety in the neighborhood, with some describing the incident as unusual and others saying the violence concerned them.
Investigators are still working to determine whether the alleged home invasion was random or whether the residence or renter was specifically targeted. Police said they were not looking for additional suspects, while Publien remained hospitalized and Thompson was in custody.
Author note: Last updated September 25, 2026.