Man shot friend dead in front of girlfriends and kids, police say

A feud between friends left one man dead from gunfire and another accused of killing him in front of their girlfriends and children. When Sunrise police arrived to a reported shooting on a Friday night, they found Michael Randall Wetzel, 21, of Sunrise dying on the ground.

Wetzel was taken from the 2100 block of Northwest 64th Avenue to Broward Health Medical Center around 9 p.m. on Aug.18. He had five bullet wounds — in his back, each bicep, his right thigh and right shoulder — and died in the hospi- tal, Sunrise police said.

The shooting happened in front of a woman who told police she is pregnant with Wetzel’s baby, as well as the girlfriend of the accused gunman, Willie Frank Bynum, 33, of Lauderhill.

The men had been arguing, mostly by text, for 24 hours before the killing, and a week later, police were still investigating why. The gun has not been found, Sunrise Police Officer Christopher Piper said Friday. Bynum told detectives he threw it into bushes.

The violence began when Wetzel and his girlfriend were walking along Northwest 21st Court and a white Jeep driven by Bynum’s girlfriend pulled up. Also inside were Bynum and their children.

Bynum got out, said, “What was all that junk you were talking?” and pulled a gun from his waistband, according to an arrest report.

Bynum fired a warning shot before firing at Wetzel, one of the witnesses told police.

Wetzel’s girlfriend approached her fallen boyfriend, Bynum pointed the gun at her and he told her to back away, she told police.

In bond court Wednesday, Broward Judge John Fry ordered Bynum held in jail without bond.