Miami-Dade Police Officer, Sister Killed In Puerto Rico
MIAMI (CBS4)- Miami-Dade Police Director James Loftus is offering his condolences to the family of a Miami-Dade police officer who was shot and killed along with his sister in Puerto Rico. But Loftus and fellow officers are not commenting about the circumstances of this troubling case that has become a mystery.
"It's just too early to comment right now," Loftus told CBS4's Peter D'Oench as he left Aviles' home in Homestead after spending time with his family late Thursday afternoon.
Authorities in Puerto Rico says 34-year-old Juan Aviles and his sister were gunned down in Villalba, Puerto Rico at about 3:30 in the morning. It is a remote area on that island. It's not clear what the motive was or why they were out so early in the morning.
Puerto Rican police say Aviles and his sister were not robbed. They are investigating the sister's ex-boyfriend. They also say that three envelopes filled with white powder were found at the crime scene. Police there confirm it was cocaine.
Angel Feliciano, the Homicide Police Director for Puerto Rico, said, "They found it (the cocaine) in his pants and they found an additional envelope which had already been consumed."
Miami-Dade Police are not commenting about the cocaine. But the department was stunned.
Lt. Rosana Cordero-Stutz of Miami-Dade Police said, "Obviously we are affected by this as a police department. It's one thing working on the road as a police officer and understanding the risks that go with that. But when you go on vacation to visit your mom, it's really the last thing that you think is going to happen."
Aviles was married with several children. His wife recently had twins. He joined Miami-Dade Police in December of 2006 and worked in the Midwest district and was based in Doral.
Aviles was a passenger in a car. His sister was the driver. He had just arrived on the island last weekend.
"He came on vacation to see his mother," said Carmen Otero, the officer's aunt. "To spend mother's day and see his sisters. He was going to leave on the 18th."
Aviles' widow is also a Miami-Dade officer. She works in the South District.
On Thursday night, there was a steady procession of police officers and friends paying their respects.
Neighbors told D'Oench they were saddened by what happened.
"Oh that's very sad," said Michael Gonzalez, a neighbor. "Wow. Especially an officer who protects us. He was a very quiet guy. He used to watch out for the kids and make sure they were ok, even looking after my own daughters."
Higinio Robles, another neighbor, told D'Oench, "He was an officer, a quiet guy who kept to himself. It's a tragedy to the Miami-Dade community, to my neighborhood. We feel real sorry about that."
Miami-Dade Police are respecting the jurisdiction that police in Puerto Rico have. But they are offering to send any resources that are necessary to Puerto Rico to help in this investigation.
