Gunfire erupts outside Miami apartment building, man killed
MIAMI - One man is dead and two people were wounded after gunfire erupted on a Miami street.
Miami police said that just before 6:30 a.m. officers were sent to 4271 NW S Tamiami Canal in reference to a shooting. When they arrived they found the body of a man who had been shot.
Police also told CBS News Miami's Peter D'Oench that two other people who were grazed by gunfire were being treated at Coral Gables Hospital. A CBS News Miami crew spotted two Miami police vehicles including a CSI unit outside the hospital. Police are trying to determine if they saw the shooter or knew that person.
A woman who lives in the area said just after 6 a.m. she was getting her son ready when she heard at least five gunshots. The woman's apartment overlooks the parking lot where the shooting happened. She said when she looked outside, she saw a body on the ground and two men were standing over it. Both men had face masks and hoods on, she said.
The two men then ran off.
"Yeah, for the most part, everyone is okay except for the guy who took a bullet to the head," said one man who was visiting a friend at the building. . "I came here as support for my friend as she may be overwhelmed with emotion right now after seeing this and what happened. She is shaken a little bit after seeing a body outside her room."
A youngster who lives in the area said he saw essentially the same thing. He said he heard gunshots and went to see what had happened.
"I heard several gunshots from like the back and the front. They had stopped and then four more were fired. I was just worried about where my mom was and I went and woke my mom up," he said.
People who live in the neighborhood said the apartment building is used as an Airbnb and some bad things have happened there.
A City of Miami spokeswoman said zoning in the area allows for an Airbnb but she also said the building was operating without a Cerificate of Use and a Business tax receipt and will be cited by Code Enforcement because of that.
"At this time, detectives are still trying to figure out if this is going to be an isolated incident. If it's a targeted incident," said Miami police Officer Kiara Delva.
One of the questions that needs to be answered is if the man who died lived in the building.
"I can't confirm if the victim lives here or not. Or if he was visiting someone," said Delva.
So far, no arrests have been made.
Delva said, "This senseless violence has to stop. If you a person who saw or heard anything, that piece of information can help our detectives close out this case and locate suspects who are responsible that have no regard to our society and need to be placed behind bars."
Police have not identified the victim. Some possible family members showed up at the scene and told CBS News Miami's Morgan Rynor that they were going to the Miami Police Department to get some answers. CBS News Miami caught up with some of them outside the department but they did not want to say anything.
Anyone with information that can help police should call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305)
471-TIPS (8477). There is a reward of up to $5,000.
