Tragedy in Coconut Creek: Broward County Community Mourns After Local Doctor and Mother Killed in Murder-Suicide

The South Florida Haitian-American community is reeling following a devastating domestic violence incident that claimed two lives early Saturday morning in the Paloma Lakes neighborhood.

According to NBC 6, police have identified the deceased as 34-year-old Dr. Jean Dominique Foureau and his partner, 38-year-old Veloudre Petitval. According to investigators, Foureau fatally shot Petitval before turning the gun on himself in their home located in the 4800 block of Arcadia Trail.

The news has sent shockwaves through the local medical and military sectors. Dr. Foureau was a well-respected Emergency Room physician and served as a battalion surgeon for the Florida Army National Guard. However, behind the professional accolades, authorities pointed to a history of domestic instability; records show that police had previously responded to a domestic dispute at the residence in April 2025.

The loss of Veloudre Petitval has left a particularly deep void. Friends and family describe her as a devoted mother. She leaves behind two children: a 2-year-old son she shared with Foureau, and a 14-year-old son from a previous relationship.

Local leaders in the Black and Haitian-American communities are using this tragedy to highlight the silent epidemic of domestic violence that transcends professional and socio-economic status. This incident serves as a grim reminder that even those dedicated to saving lives, like those in the medical field, are not immune to the cycles of domestic trauma.

For many in the Coconut Creek and greater Miami area, the focus now turns to supporting the two children left behind and ensuring that Petitval’s life is remembered for more than its tragic end.

Domestic Violence Resources: If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text “START” to 88788. For confidential support regarding children, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.

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