Kidnapping led to deadly Miami Gardens shooting
MIAMI - A kidnapping in Plantation ended in a deadly shooting in Miami Gardens.
"The guy come to kill him for money," said Alethia Sterling.
The shooting happened at Sterling's home in the 17900 block of NW 43rd Court around 11 p.m. Tuesday. She said she rents out a room to Shanard Alvarez, 19, who had flashed some cash in a post on social media.
It was the post, she said, that led to his kidnapping in Plantation. Sterling said Alvarez knew the person who took him.
Plantation police confirmed that Alvarez was taken from an Airbnb by a former friend.
"His own friends that he knew from school, they call him up, he thinks it's a friendly conversation or get together. But they kidnapped him and come to his house to get the money," said Sterling.
She said she was at work when she got the call to come home.
"I don't even know what I'm saying or if I'm speaking, in Spanish or in tongues, because I'm feeling the Holy Spirit, but I was like I have to go home. I have to go home," said Sterling.
She said when Alvarez and the man who abducted him walked into the house they appeared to be in a scuffle. Sterling said Alvarez and the other man wrestled for a gun and shots were fired.
She said Alvarez's assailant was killed.
"He tried to protect himself," she said of her tenant. "He defended himself."
When Miami Gardens police arrived they found two men with gunshot wounds. One man was dead, the other was taken to a hospital. They have not confirmed who was fatally shot.
Sterling said Alvarez was later released from the hospital and was picked up by his parents.