Deputy fatally shot while taking robbery suspect to court

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. -- A sheriff's deputy was fatally shot Wednesday by a convicted robber who was being transported to court for trial on additional charges, officials said.

The suspect, Michael Mazza, left the deputy in a parking lot and then escaped in the department medical transport van with the deputy's weapon, sheriff's spokesman Elliot Cohen said.

The Broward County deputy, Paul Rein, died at a hospital, Sheriff Al Lamberti said.

Mazza, 40, was alone in the van with the deputy as he was being taken to court in restraints for trial on charges of bank robbery and eluding police. He already was serving two life sentences for armed robbery, Cohen said.

"This is a man who has nothing to lose," Cohen said. He said Mazza "should be considered armed and extremely dangerous."

Traffic was backed up for miles around the scene of the shooting as investigators and deputies searched for the suspect. The van was later found empty in Fort Lauderdale about 20 miles from the shooting scene in Pompano Beach.

School officials said 19 schools were locked down as a precaution.

The suspect was on trial in connection with a Feb. 28 bank robbery. After robbing a Bank of America branch in Coral Springs, Mazza led police on a short chase before he crashed his car into another vehicle, injuring himself and two others, authorities said.

Mazza's attorney, Maurice Graham, requested a mistrial Wednesday morning in court, where he and prosecutors listened to radio updates about the search for Mazza.

Graham did not immediately return a phone message or e-mail sent Wednesday by The Associated Press.

Mazza's criminal record also includes probation for a drug offense and attempted robbery.

The deputy is the fourth South Florida law enforcement officer and the third Broward deputy shot in the last three months.

Deputy Maury Hernandez was shot in the head Aug. 6 during a traffic stop. He was released from the hospital Oct. 25. Sergeant Chris Reyka, 51, was fatally shot as he was looking for stolen vehicles behind a drug store Aug. 10. His killer is still being sought.

In September, Miami-Dade County police officer Jose Somohano was fatally shot by a gunman who ambushed him and three other officers. The suspect was killed by officers hours later in Broward.