A Broward dad is lucky to be alive after he was shot during a botched robbery attempt. And he has his 9-year-old son to thank for it.

Police are searching for a suspect who shot Rodney Shepard in front of his three sons Monday evening in Plantation. The shooting happened shortly before 5 p.m. Monday at the home on the 4500 block of Northwest 3rd Court.

According to police,Shepard and his three boys, 8-year-old twins and a 9-year-old son, were confronted by a family acquaintance outside the house.

As they talked to the acquaintance, known as "Dred" or "Dred O," a Mercedes pulled into the driveway and a man with a handgun jumped out of the car and approached them.

The gunman ordered Shepard into his house and began to search his pockets for valuables.

Shepard and the gunman began to struggle, and Shepard wound up shot in the leg. The 9-year-old got a kitchen knife in attempt to ward off the gunman, who fled the scene.

Dred also fled the scene.

Shepard was taken to Broward General Medical Center in stable condition. His sons weren't injured.

Plantation Police are looking for Dred, described as a black male, possibly in his 30s. He drives a silver or gold Lexus.

The gunman, also a black male in his 30s, is about 6-foot tall, thin to medium build with low cut black hair. He was driving an older model silver, white or champagne 4-door Mercedes with tinted windows.

Anyone with info is asked to call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.