Deadly Florida City Walmart shooting, three men charged
MIAMI -- A fight between two groups of people inside a Walmart in Florida City erupted in gunfire Wednesday afternoon, leaving one person dead and two others hurt in an incident that sent panicked shoppers and workers running for safety.
Three people have been arrested in connection with the shooting at the Walmart located at 33501 S Dixie Highway near the Florida Turnpike, according to police.
The suspected gunman, identified as 25-year-old Steve Lestin, has been charged second degree murder and attempted second degree murder.
The two others, 20-year-old Roberto Acevedo and 21-year-old Jimari Hodge, have been charged with battery.
Investigators said the man who died after being flown to Jackson South Trauma Center had been involved in the altercation with the trio before the shooting began. He's been identified as Nathaniel Baez, 23.
Another man who suffered a gunshot wound to his foot was an innocent bystander, while a woman who suffered a head injury did so while trying to run from the scene, according to police. Officials said five other people were treated at the scene and released.
Police did not say what the fight was about.
The incident sent a wave of panic through shoppers and workers.
"Everybody started running, then I hear people saying get out of the store," one witness said. "Next thing you know people are pushing me and I end up out of the store. I mean I thought I was going to die."
"The first shot boom! (and) I said, 'What's that?'" witness Doreen Fine said. "Then it stopped and then boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!"
Live video from the scene showed a large police presence outside the store and people standing outside in the parking lot.
"The Florida City Police Department immediately responded and that's when they found two individuals who were suffering from apparent gun shot wounds," said Miami-Dade police spokesperson Alvaro Zabaleta.
CBS News Miami obtained cell phone video from inside the store, showing customers looking on in horror as people tend to a man who collapsed in a hair salon after he was shot in the abdomen.
"I heard five shots, the guy was shot five times," said a woman named Johanni, who witnessed the shooting. "He went running and fell on the floor in the salon."
In a written statement to CBS News Miami, Walmart said: "We are deeply saddened by what took place in our Florida City store, and our thoughts are with the victim's loved ones. The store is closed at this time. We will work closely with local law enforcement through the course of their investigation and will refer further questions to police."
Video posted to social media showed a frenetic scene in which people were yelling or screaming and another person laying on the ground.
"As soon as I heard four bangs like screaming and like a stampede of people," said witness Ana Lucia.
Another tweet on social media showed a man talking about the shooting and the sound of gunfire that he heard before he ran out of the store along with other customers.
CBS News Miami reporter Anna McAllister contributed to this report.
