Sunny Isles Drone Helps Locate Car in Lauderhill Shooting Attempt

Two men arrested after Sunny Isles Beach police use drone to track down vehicle linked to earlier crime

Apr. 17, 2026 at 10:50pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a handgun under the driver's seat of a car, captured with harsh, direct lighting to create a stark, gritty investigative aesthetic.A drone-assisted police operation leads to the recovery of a stolen firearm, exposing the growing role of aerial surveillance in law enforcement.Sunny Isles Beach Today

Sunny Isles Beach police deployed a drone on Wednesday afternoon to locate a vehicle connected to an attempted homicide investigation in neighboring Lauderhill. The drone quickly spotted the car, allowing officers on the ground to surround the vehicle and take two men into custody, one of whom was already on probation. Police recovered a stolen firearm from the car during the arrests.

Why it matters

This incident highlights how local police departments are increasingly using drone technology to support cross-jurisdictional investigations and improve response times. While civil liberties groups have raised concerns about the expansion of aerial surveillance, departments argue that drones can enhance officer safety and lead to quicker apprehension of suspects.

The details

After receiving information about a vehicle linked to an attempted homicide in Lauderhill, Sunny Isles Beach police launched a drone that quickly located the car. Officers then surrounded the vehicle and ordered the two occupants, identified as Zorrian Jenkins and Jamar Franklin, to exit the car at gunpoint. Police found a stolen firearm under the driver's seat. Jenkins was held on a $16,000 bond, while Franklin's bond was set at $500.

  • On Wednesday afternoon, Sunny Isles Beach police launched a drone to search for the vehicle.
  • The drone spotted the car just before 3 p.m.

The players

Sunny Isles Beach Police Department

The local law enforcement agency in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida that deployed the drone to track down the vehicle linked to the Lauderhill attempted homicide.

Zorrian Jenkins

A 30-year-old man from Bradenton, Florida who was the driver of the vehicle and was arrested and held on a $16,000 bond.

Jamar Franklin

A 32-year-old man from Miramar, Florida who was the passenger in the vehicle and was arrested, initially refusing to identify himself to police.

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What’s next

The judge will decide on the bond amounts and conditions for Jenkins and Franklin at their upcoming court hearings.

The takeaway

This case demonstrates how police departments are increasingly utilizing drone technology to support investigations and apprehend suspects more quickly, though the expansion of aerial surveillance has raised concerns from civil liberties groups about the need for clear policies and oversight.