Man Fatally Shot by Boynton Beach Police After Charging Officers With Machete

Boynton Beach Police responded to a report of a domestic dispute between a father and an adult son around 10:45 a.m., Saturday, April 5 near the 600 block of Northeast 20th Lane in Boynton Beach. Upon arrival, BBPD officers encountered 31-year-old Edenson Jules of Boynton Beach who was involved in the dispute at Intracoastal Park, armed with a machete. Officers attempted to de-escalate the situation and gave verbal commands for the individual to drop the machete. The individual ignored the officers' commands and stated, “Shoot, why you don’t want to shoot?” before charging the officers with the machete.

As a result, the officers discharged their firearms, striking the individual. Multiple officers on-scene immediately began performing life-saving measures. The Boynton Beach Fire Rescue Department transported the individual to Delray Medical Center, where he later died.

It is the current policy of the Boynton Beach Police Department to request the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate all officer involved shootings and in-custody deaths. The investigation is active.

Per BBPD policy, four officers have been placed on non-disciplinary administrative leave until the investigation is complete. The officers involved are as follows: Officer Sunil Surajbally, Officer Brittany Jones, Officer Amanda Eichorst and Officer Thomas Winkles. All involved officers were unharmed.