The victim, who asked not to be identified, said it started as a day at the beach for her and her friend back in December.

“This is right before the incident, because we’re all smiles,” she said as she showed pictures to 7News.

The victim said she and her friend ran into the suspect.

“[He] told me he was a musician and asked to add himself on Instagram,” she said.

The victim said the man introduced himself as a performer and artist looking to reach a larger audience through social media.

“[I told him], ‘Sure, I’ll follow you. You’re a musician. Let me give you some support. Cool, I get it,'” she said.

The victim said she handed her cellphone to the man so he could set her up to follow him on Instagram.

“It all happened so fast,” she said.

“Fast” and, police said, fraudulent.

“It was less than an hour when I saw an email that said I had $1,200, through Venmo, [sent] to this stranger,” said the victim.

The man was gone and so was $1,200 from her Venmo account, and that’s when the victim realized she had been scammed.

“I knew immediately what had happened,” she said.

Now she wants her story out there as a warning to others.

“It was, like, this sense of panic,” she said.

This woman is not alone. Police said she’s one of several people who were scammed in Miami Beach by the same man, who’s allegedly worked with others.

The problem is so bad, police are making videos to make people aware, like a recent clip posted by Miami Beach Police.

“It’s essential that you remain vigilant, and be aware of any potential scams,” said a spokesperson for the police department in the video.

Thr video also recreates a potential scamming scenario to show how con artists pose as club promoters or entertainment types, promising club access, drink vouchers and other perks to unsuspecting victims.

“These individuals are accessing money transferring apps and sending themselves large amounts of money while in possession of your phone,” said the Miami Beach Police spokesperson.

The victim who spoke with 7News said the scammer who targeted her sent cash and a gift emoji to another Venmo account, as seen in screenshot she provided.

But police would catch up with the suspect, identified as James Plitsas, whom they re-arrested,

Police said he has been busted three more times since the December duping of the victim on the beach.

In a statement, a Miami Beach Police spokesperson wrote, “Through a meticulous operation and the strategic utilization of social media, MBPD investigators were able to successfully apprehend the defendant.”

As for the victim, she has a message for the public.

“Listen to your gut instinct, and never hand a stranger your phone,” she said.

Plitsas remains locked up. He faces numerous charges in connection to at least four open cases, including grand theft and fraud. .

The security footage shows the moment when, detectives said, 23-year-old Jason Dyer-Mitchell opened fire inside the business located near Northwest 17th Avenue and 54th Street, just after 12:30 a.m., Saturday.

Lorenzo, who works security at the store, spoke with 7News hours later.

“The guy came in, and he started arguing with the owner,” he said.

The video shows Dyer-Mitchell and one of the victims going back and forth for a few seconds. What the altercation was about is unclear.

As one of the gas station owners begins to kick Dyer-Mitchell out of his store, the suspect is seen pulling out and gun and discharging it about nine times, striking both owners and a bystander who was shopping at the store.

“[The gunman] shot [one of the owners] two times and then shot him in the back after he turned around, four more times, and then he shot the other guy three times,” said Lorenzo.

Detectives identified the victims as 51-year-old Shahbaz Hussain and 42-year-old Shamun Shaukat. The owners, affectionately nicknamed “Sunny” and “Moon,” were pronounced dead at the scene.

“He wasn’t just a boss; he was a friend,” sad Lorenzo.

Investigators said the injured bystander managed to crawl out of the store, as strangers rushed to his aid before paramedics arrived and hoisted him into an ambulance.

Dyer-Mitchell appeared before Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy S. Glazer on Monday.

“You were arrested for two counts of second-degree murder with prejudice and two counts of second-degree murder with a weapon,” said Glazer.

This is not the suspect’s first run-in with the law. He was arrested in Miami Beach in January 2022 for assaulting a tourist with a nail. He faced charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and other offenses, including several drug charges.

How Dyer-Mitchell got a hold of the gun used in the gas station shooting remains unclear.

Lorenzo shared his grief and remorse for not being there to protect the owners during the shooting.

“I was supposed to have been there to protect them, but I wasn’t there at the time, and that makes me feel bad,” he said.

The Chevron station remains closed. Monday evening, 7News cameras captured Miami Police officers at the scene.

Dyer-Mitchell is being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in West Miami-Dade.

Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Bryan Jimenez Fallas stood before Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy S. Glazer, Monday morning.

He faces charges of aggravated battery and attempted manslaughter.

According to Doral Police, the incident took place in the parking lot of The Shoppes at MICC, located at 7800 NW 25th St., just before 4 p.m., Saturday.

Police found a man with a gunshot wound. Paramedics airlifted the victim to Ryder Trauma Center in unknown condition.

Jimenez Fallas is being held on a $15,000 bond.

Crews on Monday said they’ve got a blaze near Southwest 137th Avenue and Eighth Street mostly contained.

7Skyforce captured light smoke billowing into the sky.

A second brush fire along Bird Road and 157th Avenue is roughly 50% contained.

No homes are threatened in either fire, officials said.

The fires erupted Sunday and scorched at least 150 acres, forcing some road closures. The roadways have since reopened.

What sparked the flames remains unclear.

This group of people were the last to fly out of Israel before hundreds of drones and missiles launched toward its territory, early Sunday morning.

“It felt a little bit like getting the last chopper out of ‘Nam,” said traveler Julie Simonson.

Traveler Tony Raz said they departed in the nick of time.

“It was pretty scary when they said that they’d already released some of these mini-planes with bombs on them, and they were saying they were going to close the skies at 12:30 at night, 12:30 a.m. Our flight was scheduled to take off at 12:15,” he said. “We got on the plane, and it was maybe 10 minutes behind schedule. The skies were closed, but they let us get out.”

Their plane landing safely at Miami International Airport several hours later.

Some passengers told 7News they were still shaken up.

“I was scared, I start to cry,” said traveler Taly Raz. “I didn’t know if I’m going to see my kids, if we were going be flying, if we were going to get bombed while we were on the airplane.”

Many didn’t know whether they would take off or have to seek shelter at the airport.

“Just the whole plane was, like, really intense, people trying to figure out what’s going on,” said traveler Aryeh Levine. “It was a really surreal situation.”

Passengers watched everything unfold on their phone screens.

“We were on the plane, and everyone was connected to the Wi-Fi, so you could see it was like a fireworks display in the sky, just rockets coming in, and the iron dome intercepting all the rockets,” said Levine.

Maor Elbaz-Starinsky, the Consulate General of Israel on Miami, spoke about the attacks hours later.

“Iran should be held accountable for everything that they’ve been doing, for whatever they’ve done last night, and we know what they’ve done last night,” he said. “Iran will carry the consequences of such attack.”

Those on board the plane that landed at MIA hope this conflict doesn’t escalate into something worse.

“We want peace. We want everybody to be OK and healthy, and we don’t want to be attacked,” said Simonson.

Another flight from Tel Aviv is expected to land at MIA on Monday morning.

“At the time I had no idea,” said Abe Massre. “They just showed up and attacked my dogs.”

Massre’s home surveillance camera captured every horrifying second he fought for Luna, his three-pound Shih Tzu, Sunday morning.

Massre said two pit bulls belonging to a neighbor came to his house, located in the area of Raleigh Street and North 26th Avenue, and went directly after his pet.

Armed with a piece of wood, Massre chased after the bigger canines, but he was unable to save Luna. He said one of the pit bulls took her life.

Extremely, extremely shocking,” he said. “I don’t know, I’m at a loss for words. We’re all devastated most of them with the family today. Woke up and was not how I had planned my day.”

Massre said that that the pit bull that attacked and killed Luna got and attacked others before.

“He attacked a lady, I guess, that lives down the street, and we’re gonna see what happens now,” he said.

A family is now dealing with the loss and are doing what they can do move past this tragedy.

“It’s not just a loss for me; it’s a loss for the whole family, but it’s a major loss,” said Massre. “I know people say she’s a dog, but she’s part of the family, you know. It’s not right, and it didn’t have to happen. Unfortunately, it did, but it did not have to happen.”

Hollywood Police said the pit bull’s owner was issued a notice to appear.

The owner of the pit bull spoke to 7News off camera and said the incident was a tragic accident. He is also cooperating and will be in court in June.

7News cameras on Sunday captured plumes of thick black smoke rising into the night sky, hours after the blaze ignited near the corner of Southwest 137th Avenue and Eighth Street.

According to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, crews responded just before 2:15 p.m.

As of late Sunday night, the flames have spread through nearly 20 acres.

Area resident Waleska Moreira described to 7News what she saw earlier in the day.

“We were driving; I did see the fire. It was kinda like starting, and then we went to buy, like, other stuff,” she said.

Within minutes, Moreira said, the fire spread.

“It’s way worse. Like, you can see it from far away, from like Bird Road,” she said.

The smoke got so heavy, Moreira said, it was hard to breathe

“It’s bad. You can smell it, and it’s kinda like worrisome since, you, [there’s a] gas station nearby, and there’s other houses nearby,” she said.

More than 18 units from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to assist crews with the Florida Forest Service. They continue working to control the grass fire.

“Yeah, it’s pretty scary,” said a boy who lives in the area.

In a statement, MDFR spokesperson Erika Benitez wrote, “Sections of the fire on the south side have been knocked down but units continue to fight the fire progressing westward.”

As day turned into night, the blaze was upgraded to a third alarm fire.

With the limited visibility, roads where shut down, all in an effort to keep those in the area safe.

“What we are suggesting is, if you have respiratory issues, to try to avoid the area,” said Benitez. “If you’re at home or in your vehicle traveling, please keep your windows closed and your [air conditioner] recirculating inside your vehicle or your home.”

The fire takes place during the peak of what is considered the dry season in South Florida, which extends until the end of May.

Meteorologists said the conditions have been drier than usual across the region, and no rain is expected during the early part of this week.

Officials with the Florida Department of Agriculture urge residents to be “fire ready” at this point in the season.

Some 7News viewers have called in on Sunday to say they have been waiting for up to four hours to leave Key Biscayne.

The flyover bridge that connects westbound traffic to U.S. 1 and Interstate 95 will be closed for the next two months to allow crews to do some work on concrete pavement on the bridge decks, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.

During this closure, the following detours have been established.

Drivers heading west on the causeway who want to go south on U.S. 1 will:

• Continue west on the causeway and merge left at the fork toward Coconut Grove/Brickell Avenue.
• Continue driving west and make a left turn onto South Miami Avenue.
• Make a right turn onto U.S. 1.

Motorists going west on the causeway who want to go north on I-95 will:

• Continue west on the causeway and merge left at the fork toward Coconut Grove/Brickell Avenue.
• Continue driving west onto Southwest 26th Road.
• Turn right at the bend on Southwest 26th Road, then continue driving toward Southwest 25th Road.
• Use the entrance ramp onto northbound I-95 from Southwest 26th Road.

Access to Brickell Avenue and South Miami Avenue will not be affected. However, officials advise drivers to expect heavy delays.

For more information about this project, visit FDOT’s website.

Veterans who served during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War returned home Saturday night after spending the day in Washington, D.C., where they visited memorials built in their honor.

The trip is a one-day mission that allows them to reflect.

“Just coming through that line, and the gratitude and all the love and emotion that I felt coming through there, if we had just experienced that those many years ago when we came back from Vietnam, it would have been tremendous,” said Vietnam War veteran Irvin Raveneau. “But that’s in the past. What’s happening today, what just happened in there, it’s just fantastic”

Honor Flight South Florida covered the cost of the flights, meals and special transportation that included police escorts in Washington.

The nonprofit Becca’s Closet on Saturday lent a helping hand to several high school girl who were out shopping for a formal dress at the Festival Marketplace Mall in Pompano Beach.

Autumn was one of the young shoppers.

“It’s really cool. They have so many different things,” she said.

Becca’s Closet gave the teens access to the free dresses. The nonprofit helps high school students in need of a dress for prom or homecoming get one if they can’t afford it.

Andrea Butler was accompanying her niece, who was looking for a prom dress.

“It’s very helpful, especially in this time with the money, you know, the hard times for a lot of people, and this helps us out a lot,” she said

Autumn marveled at the wide array of dresses.

“I think its really helpful that they give you different options, they, like, get you outside the box,” she said.

Volunteers helped the girls pick out the perfect outfit.

“I got a green short dress for a banquet I’m going to for Color Guard,” said.

“So we have our volunteers in the store front, and the girls who booked appointments with us are working side by side with our personal shoppers,” said Pam Kirtman with Becca’s Closet.

Becca’s Closet was formed 20 years ago after Jay and Pam Kirtman’s daughter, 16-year-old Becca, passed away in a car accident.

Before she died, Becca collected about 250 dresses, helping hundreds of girls attend their high school proms.

“Prom, as everybody knows, is the main event where every group in the school goes to,” said Jay Kirtman. “It’s not like just the athletes or any particular groups. It’s one event, they all come together, and carrying on Rebecca’s memory, and helping girls smile and carrying on her mission is heartwarming, and it just really puts a smile, not only on their face, but our face.”

Now with chapters across the country, her parents said, they can’t put a price on the girls’ faces.

“It’s priceless, definitely,” said Pam.

“And we get rewarded, fortunately, with the hug and the extreme thanks, and we’re the ones who are really thankful,” said Jay.

“And the parents and the caregivers are relieved. I mean, it’s a burden; senior year is expensive. This relieves the burden, one little thing,” said Pam.

The Kirtmans said high school students in need of a dress can fill out an online form. For more information, click here.

The blaze sparked in the area of Southwest 214th Avenue and 340th Street, Saturday afternoon, and it threatened a nearby trailer and a nursery.

Around 30 firefighters and 10 trucks with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue rushed to put out the fire and keep it from spreading.

There were no injuries.

7News cameras on Saturday morning captured Miramar Police as they passed out flyers to joggers and drivers along Miramar Parkway.

They’re hoping to find the person who left Onyxia Delinois on life support at Memorial Regional Hospital after she went jogging on near 183rd Street and Miramar Parkway, April 6.

Her devastated husband, Roosevelt Delinois, is hoping to find answers after she was left alone on the side of the road.

“I just want someone to say something, someone to come forward,” he said as he broke down in tears. “This is not her fault. She did not do this, someone else did this to her and just left her there.”

Onyxia, 26, was running with a group of joggers and was jogging ahead when, detectives said, she was hit by a motorist who took off.

Her fellow runners called 911.

“Tell me exactly what happened,” asked a dispatcher.

“We are a group of runners, and one of our friends is on the side of the road. It seems that she may have gotten hit,” said a caller.

Paramedics rushed Onyxia to the hospital, where she underwent an emergency brain surgery. As of Saturday night, she remains in a coma.

Doctors told 7News they have been very concerned.

“We are extremely concerned about her neurological recovery,” said Dr. Andrew Rosenthal with Memorial Regional Hospital. “I expect that she’ll be in the hospital for several weeks or months.”

Roosevelt, meanwhile, is asking the public for help.

“If somebody would have stayed with her, maybe she would have gotten to the hospital faster,” he said. “I’m devastated. How would you feel if this was your family member. How would you feel if this was your mom or your wife or your daughter? This is not her fault.”

If you have any information on this hit-and-run or the driver’s whereabouts, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.

City of Miami Police and Fire Rescue units responded to the scene of the shooting at a Chevron station in the area of Northwest 17th Avenue and 54th Street, just after 12:30 a.m., Saturday.

Investigators said the violent chain of events began with a verbal altercation inside of the gas station involving two employees.

Police said the subject pulled out a firearm and opened fire, striking the employees and a customer, then fled on foot.

The employees, identified as 51-year-old Shahbaz Hussain and 42-year-old Shamun Shaukat, were pronounced dead at the scene.

A man who identified himself as Lorenzo said he works security at the gas station. He said the victims, affectionately known by the neighbors as “Sunny” and “Moon,” were the owners of the business.

“I don’t know what the argument was,” he said. “[The gunman] shot [one of the owners] two times and then shot him in the back after he turned around, four more times, and then he shot the other guy three times.”

Lorenzo said he had overslept, and by the time he arrived, police had cordoned off the gas station with crime scene tape.

Paramedics rushed the customer, identified as 57-year-old Elijah Shorter, to Ryder Trauma Center, where he is listed in critical condition.

Back at the scene, police were seen collecting evidence and laying out several markers.

Police said they set up two perimeters, as SWAT teams searched for the shooter for hours.

“I looked outside, and there was a million cars, tanks,” said area resident Kathleen Quinn.

Just before 8 p.m., detectives confirmed they have apprehended a suspect.

“I saw about five or six cops putting him in the back of the car,” said Quinn.

Neighbors remain in shock and devastated over the loss of Hussain and Shaukat.

“They were amazing people. They’ll help you out if you’re hungry, they’ll feed you. If you’re short, they don’t worry about you paying them back,” said Quinn. “They’re just – they’re really good to you. You get to know them after a while, you know. They didn’t deserve this whatsoever.”

SWAT teams were later seen clearing out of the neighborhood.

Late Saturday night, police said the suspect they detained is at their station being questioned.

If you have any information on this shooting, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.

According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, Leah Jones had been last seen along the 4400 block of Southwest 52nd Street, at around 7 a.m., Monday.

She stands 5 feet, 2 inches tall, weighs about 110 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes.

Detectives did not specify what Jones had been last seen wearing.

Sunday morning, investigators confirmed the teen was found safe.

The brush fire erupted earlier this week on Andros Island. Easterly winds carried smoke from the fire to Miami-Dade and Broward counties, even leading to an air quality alert in Fort Lauderdale.

While the fire continues to burn through a forest, firefighters said they’ve been able to keep it from spreading to populated areas.

Commissioner Joe Magazine is an advocate for reducing crime in Miami Beach, but during some frightening moments on Thursday morning, he became the victim of one.

“[I was] just casually walking, like any other morning, over to my car,” he said, “like any other normal day.”

But it wasn’t just any day for this newly elected city official who champions public safety. As he was getting ready to head to work, he soon discovered a burglar had different plans.

“[I] open the car door, and out essentially falls a person, unexpectedly,” Magazine told 7News. “A person was in my driver’s seat.”

Within the parking garage of his West Avenue condominium, a crook spilled out of his vehicle.

“He starts taking off right away, kinda pushes me aside,” he said.

Shocked, the commissioner called police. He described the moments that followed.

“I’m on the phone with 911, so I follow him through this door,” said Magazine.

Surveillance video shows the burglar exiting the garage, with Magazine close behind. Both men rounded a corner and walked out of the frame.

Moments later, the commissioner said, a bad situation got worse.

“And he turns around, gun’s already pulled, right at my chest,” he said.

When asked what was going through his mind as he stared down the barrel of a gun, Magazine, who has a young daughter, said, “There, what was really troubling is, I knew my life was no longer in my control.”

Magazine said he chose to stand still and comply with the gunman.

“He wasn’t going to miss me. I just stopped in my tracks, put my arms up,” he said. “He started taking another step or two toward me with his gun.”

Magazine said the perpetrator then said, “Get the [expletive] back.”

When asked whether his life is flashing before his eyes, Magazine replied, “Quite literally.”

But after a few a seconds, Magazine said, the gunman turned around and left.

“I retreated that way and ran around the building,” he said. “By the time I even got to the other side of my building, you had police coming down West Avenue.”

A surveillance still shows what appears to be a gun in the burglar’s right hand.

“It appears to be a firearm there,” said Magazine.

As of Friday night, police continue their search for the subject captured on surveillance video wearing an orange bucket hat, striped shirt and shorts. Police said he stands about 5 feet, 7 inches tall and has a medium build.

If you have any information on this incident or the subject’s whereabouts, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.

Alekxei Pino had his leg amputated back in February.

Twenty-two-year-old Alekxei Pino, an employee of the Transportation Security Administration, showed 7News his other leg on Tuesday.

“They sliced through my nerves, all the way across,” he said. “This [leg] is shattered, and this one is mangled.”

Pino suffered these injuries on Feb. 6, when he was hit by a car and pinned against another in Southwest Miami-Dade.

The victim was accidentally struck by Miami Heat forward Haywood Highsmith.

Body camera video shows an officer asking Highsmith a few questions.

“So you were driving this way?” asked the officer.

“Yes,” said Highsmith.

“You were by yourself?” asked the officer.

“Yes,” said Highsmith.

Highsmith was driving home from the Kaseya Center following a Heat game against the Orlando Magic.

“Car was stopped here, and the lights weren’t on,” Highsmith told an officer.

Listed as the “at fault party” and cited for careless driving, Highsmith collided with Pino, who was in the street helping a driver with a broken-down car in the area of Southwest 136th Street and 138th Avenue.

“I heard my brother. He screamed for help. He thought I was gone,” said Pino.

The young man was told he could have easily lost his life.

“I was thanking God for every minute I was there,” said Pino as he fought back tears. “I remember saying sorry to the [emergency medical technicians], to ruin their Tuesday night.”

Attorney Manuel Dobrinsky is representing Pino, who is suing Highsmith.

“He’s worried more about how this has impacted his family. He’s worried more about putting out the people who were helping him,” said Dobrinsky.

Pino, a college student majoring in criminal justice, planned to go into law enforcement.

“What he envisioned for himself is now going to be something different,” said Dobrinsky.

But he’s battling back, and despite multiple surgeries, as well as a number of challenges, physical and otherwise, he is making progress.

“It’s hard feeling whole when you’re missing a part of you,” said Pino.

A former high school baseball and football player, Pino rehabilitates at home when not at prescribed appointments.

“I use this once a day, if not twice,” he said referring to his home gym equipment.

Pino said he is also battling mental trauma from the crash, and he hopes his story becomes a cautionary tale for drivers.

“To stay aware and be safe, always,” he said. “You might miss whatever you need to pay attention to, and that might be the kid crossing the road, the dog crossing the street, or a person like me, trying to help somebody.”

Pino’s road to recovery is uphill, but it’s one he plans to handle.

“I tell myself now, ‘You were able to do it before with two legs. You can do it with one,'” he said.

Pino also suffered serious injuries to his shoulder and hand.

As of late Tuesday night, representatives for Highsmith have not responded to 7News’ request for comment.

Pino’s family has created GoFundMe page. If you would like to make a donation, click here.

Hundreds of sailors will be greeting visitors when Fleet Week sails back from May 5 to May 12.

This year will bring an exciting roster of events to welcome sailors, Marines and Coast Guard officers.

This year, the massive military exposition is moving several miles down, from Port Everglades to Port Miami.

“While we’ve done many weeks with the great hosts at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, this is a first for Miami,” said U.S. Navy Adm. Daryl Caudle.

Around 800 service members are expected to dock in the Magic City with one mission: to teach people, young and old, about the Navy’s importance in the defense of the U.S.

Caudle, a commander at U.S. Fleet Forces Command, explained why Fleet Week is actually quite a big deal..

“That’s the most important part of Fleet Week, is that the folks in Miami get to meet the great Americans that are on our ships, that come from all walks of life,” he said.

Like every year, attendees will also have the opportunity to tour the different ships on display. Among them will be the massive USS Harry S. Truman.

Dubbed the “finest aircraft carrier in the fleet,” this ship extends more than 1,000 feet in length and is as high as a 24-story building.

The military airplanes on board the Truman are capable of projecting tactical air power over the sea as well as inland.

The ship is the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to be brought to any Fleet Week. It will soon sail on a new adventure on the Red Sea.

“She’s in her preparations for deployment, and we’re going to take a departure from that and a little break to get her down to Miami Fleet Week,” said Caudle.

Those interested in joining the U.S. Navy will have some opportunities to apply.

“We’ll have our Navy talent and acquisition teams, which, they are our recruiters, and they’ll be working closely with me and my team to actually make sure that folks who are interested in joining the Navy have all the opportunity to learn about those as well,” said Caudle.

The Truman will anchor off the shore of Miami Beach. Guests will be able take a ferry to and from the ship during Fleet Week. For more information, and how to get tickets, click here.

When Venice resident Mary Hollenback heard banging on her front screen door, she said she wasn’t too concerned.

“I thought it was somebody else who didn’t live here trying to get in, trying to get into the wrong house,” she said. “I got off the couch, came around the door prepared to say, ‘You’re in the wrong place.'”

But inside her home she found an unwanted guest. It was a scaly one with a tail.

Hollenback said two thoughts came to her.

“One is, ‘Oh, my gosh, I have an alligator in my house.’ Number two is, ‘Oh, my gosh, I have an alligator in my house. How am I going to get rid of him?'” she said.

Grabbing her phone, Hollenback dialed 911.

“By that point, I was shaking so badly, I didn’t know who else to call,” she said. “I don’t think I could have even looked up a phone number.”

The alligator made it from her hallway and appeared to get stuck in her kitchen.

It took a few Sarasota County Sheriff’s County deputies and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers to haul the 7-foot, 11-inch alligator away.

“They were so calm, so cool, so professional. They just acted like, ‘Oh, alligator in the house? OK. no big deal. We got it, case closed,'” said Hollenback.

The homeowner explained you’re how the alligator got in through her screen door.

“It’s just a magnet, but he was pushing on this and eventually just broke the magnetic connection,” she said.

And it appears the gator didn’t have to travel too far. Hollenback thinks he came from a pond located right across the street from her house.

“He had to come through two yards, cross the street and then come into my house, but nobody saw him,” she said.

Hollenback said she isn’t worried about any future visitors after getting the guest of a lifetime.

“‘Cause only in Florida you’re going to get an alligator in the house,” she said.

FWC officials said the alligator was transferred to an alligator farm.

Officials said Martin Zaretsky has been charged with seven counts of lewd and lascivious molestation on a child between 13 and 17 years old, as well as seven counts of offenses against students by authority figures.

The 50-year-old suspect works in the information technology department at Bob Graham Education Center in Miami Lakes.

According to the arrest report, Zaretsky tried to engage in romantic relationships with several students and touched them over their clothes in a lewd manner. The report stated that he also exchanged text messages with two of the victims on several occasions.

Police said that there were several incidents in which Zaretsky would wait for the victims after school, he walked into his office, would give them candy and he also would take students out of their classes so they can skip them and accompany him around the school’s campus.

He would also, police said, get students’ cellphones back that were taken by other school administrators.

One parents said that nothing like this has happened before. A pair of students recognized Zaretsky as the “technology guy,” saying he would fix the air vents and computers.

“He would just make funny comments,” said one female student.

A spokesperson with M-DCPS released a statement that reads:

“Miami-Dade County Public Schools is deeply disturbed by the troubling allegations made against this individual. Upon learning about this suspected behavior, Miami-Dade Schools Police immediately began their investigation and subsequently made an arrest. This type of comportment will not be tolerated as it runs contrary to the professional conduct we expect from all employees. The District has initiated employment termination proceedings, and will ensure the individual is precluded from seeking future employment with the District.”

M-DCPS

The mother of the child involved reached out to 7News and said she is afraid that there may be more victims.

Zaretsky is expected to go before a judge sometime on Tuesday.

Police said Pastor Antwane Lenoir from Westview Baptist Church in Northwest Miami-Dade was murdered on church property, Saturday afternoon. He was 41 years old.

“He was a very nice man, and he would give you the shirt off his back,” said Yovonka Bryant, the victim’s cousin. “He was so generous and so kind to a lot of people.”

Investigators identified the suspect as 44-year-old James Dawkins.

“It’s crazy that you can be the helping to someone, and they end up turning on you,” said Bryant.

Byrant said her cousin had been helping Dawkins, allowing him to live inside the house of worship, located in the area of Northwest 24th Avenue and 133rd Street.

But for some reason, Bryant said, Lenoir decided to end that arrangement, and he went to the church with a locksmith to change the locks.

“And the guy got wind that he wouldn’t have anywhere else to go, so he actually showed up to the church, and I think things got to be heated between he and my cousin, and [Dawkins] ended up stabbing him,” said Bryant.

Police said Lenoir suffered multiple stab wounds to the neck and died in the church parking lot. Dawkins, who played the keyboard at Westview Baptist, was arrested on Sunday.

Monday morning, the suspect appeared before Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy S. Glazer.

“He stabbed the victim in the neck,” said Glazer. “So, unprovoked, he just stabbed the victim multiple times and killed him.”

Lenoir was a husband, father of four and beloved member of this community.

Darryl Tomas said the pastor was like a brother to him.

“It’s just going to be a major major loss for this community,” he said. “Well loved, well liked, always out doing the best that he can possibly do for his family, for his community.”

While family and friends grieve a tremendous loss, the man accused of killing Lenoir remains locked up without bond.

“I hope that he someday has peace in his heart, and he comes to the realization of what he took away from us,” said Bryant.

Dawkins faces one count of first-degree murder.

Just after 4 p.m., 7News cameras captured people using telescopes at the Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science in downtown Miami, long after the celestial phenomenon was past its peak.

Hours earlier, employees at the museum handed out special glasses allowing stargazers of all ages to view the eclipse safely.

“So what you are going to do is, you’re going to squint one eye, and you’re going to look, keep a little bit of distance between it, but go ahead,” said an employee as she showed a woman how to look into the telescope’s viewfinder.

“Awesome. This is so cool,” said the woman.

She was one of hundreds of people who gathered for a firsthand glimpse of what many have described as a phenomenon.

“I couldn’t afford right now to go to Texas or Buffalo, New York, so I’m like, ‘Let’s go to Frost,'” said the woman who used the telescope.

Frost Planetarium Director Alec Warren said this was a special occasion that for many comes only once in a lifetime.

“In Miami specifically, we’re going to have about 46% of our son covered by the moon,” he said.

Telescopes were front and center at Frost Museum as the moon began moving in front of the sun.

“Well, it’s kind of – i’s really good. It’s, like, I really like it because you can kind of, like, see it really, like, it’s kind of like an orange-y color,” said a girl. “It’s actually kind of cool because it, like, gives you kind of a warmth on your face when you’re seeing it.”

“We are here all the way from California,” said a woman. “We are, yeah, and his brothers are actually on a plane and, sadly, the pilot just announced that the eclipse is right above them.”

A man who identified himself as Manuel said he brought his daughter Luciana to share in the wonder that is the solar system.

“I think this is the third time that I’ve had the experience to view a solar eclipse, but it’s her first time, so I didn’t send her to school, because I think this was a special day,” said Manuel.

“Be in the moment, ’cause you get to say, like, ‘I was there in the moment,'” said Luciana.

A moment when darkness shines light.

“It makes us really realize how tiny, teeny, tiny we are, and it’s just a beautiful thing,” said the woman who used the telescope.

North of the county line, students and staff at Broward College in Davie took part in their own eclipse viewing event. The festivities started at around noon, and many participants filled a patio area at the Buehler Observatory, equipped with their glasses.

The main event came at around 3:02 p.m.

“It looks like if someone took a bite out of the sun. The moon is really coming up and covering, just a small bit of it,” said student Christina Cacoulidis. “We’re not in totality, but it’s still really wonderful to see.”

Students said they are all too aware that it will be decades before they are able to see something like this again.

“I’m happy to be part of this new generation that gets to see the eclipse for the first time in many, many years,” said student Liany Diaz. “Next time this happens, I’ll probably be in my 30s, so that’s really exciting. I hope this is still here.”

“It’s a once-in-a-generation experience. This will be the last partial solar eclipse until 2044,” said Steve Luxenberg, president of the South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association. “But in 2045, we will have a total solar eclipse here in South Florida.”

Students did have to deal with some cloud coverage. However, when the clouds cleared, they were able to get a clear view of the partial eclipse.

Hunter may be wagging her tail now that she is being nursed back to health, but this past week, the sweet canine was found badly injured and abandoned in West Hollywood, near the Florida Turnpike.

Cindy Hunt, who spoke with 7News on Sunday, said she was alerted about the injured animal.

“I got a text from my neighbor saying that there was a very badly injured dog,” she said.

Hunt said she grabbed the poor pup and saw the gash on her back, near her neck. She became worried that someone hurt the dog on purpose.

“They feel somebody slashed her with a machete,” said Hunt.

Hunt said she rushed Hunter, a Stafford Terrier mix, to the Sunshine Animal Hospital in Pembroke Pines, where veterinarians got to work right away.

“[A vet] did surgery, and now she also needs [anterior cruciate ligament] surgery,” she said, “So the bill is going to be well over $10,000.”

On Monday, 7News cameras captured Hunter, her tail still wagging, as a veterinarian at the animal hospital walked her.

“Here, you see that she’s limping on her back left leg, so this is the leg where she has the ACL rupture,” said the veterinarian, “so you see it’s kind of dangling, she can’t really use it very well.”

Hunt called I Heart Animal Rescue, where its co-founder, Cindy Mucciaccio, learned of the vicious conditions the animal endured.

“It looks like a knife right across the whole entire back of the neck,” said Mucciaccio.

Veterinarians believe Hunter’s knee injury could be a result of being hit by a car. However, they can’t explain how or why Hunter sustained the slash on her neck. Police are now investigating a possible case of animal abuse.

Mucciaccio said she named the dog Hunter, in part for the Brady Hunter Foundation, which was quick to step up and help with some of the costs.

“We were immediately compelled to step up to the plate and help this innocent animal, this courageous canine, as best as we could,” said Paige Bresky with the Brady Hunter Foundation.

But Mucciaccio said that for injuries like the one Hunter suffered, and for other pets that need help, I Heart Animal Rescue needs help from the public.

“We need donations so we can keep paying all the bills we’re going to have,” she said.

As for Hunter, the hope is to get her better so she is able to live a pain-free life in a loving home.

“The surgery went very well. She’s really good, she ‘s going to have the ACL surgery this week,” said Hunt, “They think she is only 2 to 3 years old, so she should recover fine.”

To find out more about I Heart Animal Rescue, or if you would like to make a donation, click here. You may also text their rescue line at 954-501-0636 or support them via Link In Bio on their Instagram page.

A magical concert encompassing the galaxy was held Sunday afternoon at the Moss Center in preparation of Monday’s total solar eclipse.

The celebration of space featured music from films including “Star Wars,” “Star Trek” and “Apollo 13” filling the auditorium.

Alhambra Orchestra, whose mission is to give everyone access to great classical music, recreated the classic soundtracks.

Frost Planetarium Director Alec Warren said attendants experienced an audiovisual journey through the cosmos.

“This is a wonderful partnership between the Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center, the Alhambra Orchestra of Miami and Frost Science,” he said. “The three organizations have come together to create an out-of-this-world concert experience for all the guests that are here. It’s a sold-out concert.”

The event also featured visuals from NASA to enhance the celestial experience.

The concert was a collaboration between Alhambra Orchestra and the Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science, which also plans to host its own eclipse event in time for the rare occasion, beginning Monday at noon.

The Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale is also set to host its own eclipse viewing, Monday afternoon.

Warren said it’s always amazing to see the arts and science come together to inspire minds old and young alike.

Concertgoers on Sunday were given glasses to be prepared for the big day.

The sun was out in Indianapolis on Sunday at an American landmark: the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The venue will be playing host to eclipse watchers from all over the country, ready to take in a rare site.

“Indianapolis will be the best weather nationwide,” said Trevor Peters from Purdue University.

Peters and his colleagues are gearing up to look up and bring the science behind the celestial sensation down to Earth.

“Our researchers are dealing with that every single day. They’ll hear from them first hand, and they’ll hear from NASA experts,” he said. “We have a major event happening in our backyard, and Boilermakers are there, and we’re excited to be a part of it.”

Next month, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be packed with race fans watching the Indy 500, dubbed the greatest spectacle in racing. But on Monday, they’ll trade their sunglasses for eclipse glasses and look up at one of the greatest spectacles in the sky.

A total eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly in front of the sun. South Florida will see a partial eclipse, about 50%, but some parts of the country will go completely dark for about four minutes.

Cities from Mexico to Maine will be in the path of totality, and while cloud cover could obscure the view in cities like Dallas, Indianapolis is forecast to see a picture perfect view at around 3 p.m. Scientists said it’s the last total eclipse of the sun that the planet will see for two decades.

“It’s all part of this learning experience,” said Jacob Bleacher, NASA’s chief exploration scientist.

That’s a big job, and where else would Bleacher be but in Indianapolis for this big moment?

“When you work on this every day, it’s a job, right? But at the same time, you take a breath, and you look around. You experience an event like this just like everyone around this area and along the path will do,” said Bleacher. “I mean, it just drives home how important and exciting it is for us to understand our Earth — our Earth, moon and sun, our solar system — and the place that we have in it.”

The sun will be out on Monday, but this is the moon’s time to shine, or in this case, to obscure.

The moon will be casting a shadow on our small part of the planet, perhaps to remind us just how small we are in the solar system, or perhaps to lead us to learn more.

“I think the most important thing to take away from a big event like this is just the amazement of curiosity,” said Bleacher. “Just ask questions, just wrap yourself in knowledge and learning, and that’s really what science is all about.”

Videos posted by Only in Dade showed people running out of the large shopping center, located in Sweetwater, Sunday afternoon.

“Everybody told [us], ‘Go out, go out, there are shots, somebody shot somebody,'” said shopper Diago Liveyda.

“There has to be a shooting, because there wasn’t gonna be so much commotion for such a little thing, you know?” said another shopper.

Police evacuated the mall, while some shoppers hid inside the stores.

Luis Dickinson, who is visiting from the Cayman Islands, described the pandemonium inside the shopping center.

“We were shopping at the Gap, and all of a sudden, people just came running to the back, through the store, and we joined them, we followed them, because everybody was panicking,” he said. “We stayed there for about, maybe an hour or so.”

Several law enforcement agencies, including Miami-Dade and Sweetwater Police, swarmed the area.

But around 5 p.m., MDPD deemed the reports unfounded. After officers investigated and canvassed the mall, police said there were no signs of a shooter or an armed man at all.

But shoppers were still taken aback.

“My mom just grabbed my hand and put me in the perfume shop, and I was like, ‘What’s happening? What’s happening?'” said a girl. “Me and my friend were so nervous, and I didn’t know what to do.”

The mall later reopened. No one was injured.

7News cameras on Sunday captured framed photographs of George Castellanos. The pictures show a joyful, beaming smile that his parents said they’ll never forget.

“Very joyful, helps everyone all the time. In his job, everybody loved him,” said his mother, Jeannine Castellanos.

Castellanos was just 23 when, Miami-Dade Police said, a gunman took his life while he was simply doing his job at CityPlace Doral’s Martini Bar, at around 3:30 a.m., Saturday.

“They killed him,” said his father, George Castellanos Sr., in Spanish before he added in English, “Why? Why? Twenty-three years only.”

Police told the victim’s family that two patrons got into a fight seemingly over a sofa pillow.

“My son is the head security in Martini Bar, so he goes out there and tries to separate the fight, and when he does, the guy just takes out a gun and shoots him two times: one in his chest and the other in his stomach,” said Jeannine.

Two Doral Police officers who were working in the area immediately responded, and shot and killed the gunman. Detectives later identified him as 37-year-old Jamal Wayne Wood.

But Castellanos would not survive.

The victim leaves behind a girlfriend and a 14-month-old girl. His parents shared pictures of the young, loving family with 7News.

His father was unable to hold back tears when he said his son was his best friend and the best father.

“Best friend, best son, best brother, the best father. Yeah, 100%,” he said.

Castellanos was also studying science and criminal justice at Florida International University, with hopes of possibly going into law enforcement.

“He was in FIU, about to graduate next month, and that was one of the things that really hit me,” said Jeannine.

FIU released a statement to 7News Monday stating he would posthumously receive his degree.

“FIU is heartbroken over the senseless and tragic death of our student, George Alejandro Castellanos, who has been a member of the FIU family for the past five years. FIU will be awarding George’s degree to his family next month at our Spring 2024 graduation ceremonies. George was a hardworking and dedicated student, and we hope that the awarding of the degree will be a reminder to all of those who know and love him of his commitment to higher education, the promise of a bright future and his perseverance toward achieving his goals and dreams.”

Florida International University

“He lost his life doing his job,” said Doral Mayor Christi Fraga.

Fraga said she has called for a special council meeting for Wednesday because of the tragedy. They plan to examine bar hours of operation and consider other regulations so something like this doesn’t happen again.

“If there are measures that we can implement in our code to create additional security, we will,” said Fraga.

Castellanos’ family said they want to see more of those regulations, though it won’t bring back his beaming smile, or the “good mornings” and “I love yous” his parents so cherish.

“Every day, ‘Pa, I love you. I love you, Pa,'” said his father.

Paramedics transported the surviving victims to Ryder Trauma Center and HCA Florida Kendall Hospital. They range in age from 28 to 57 years old and include a Doral Police officer and the owner of Martini Bar.

According to a GoFundMe page, more information and current conditions have been revealed about three surviving victims, Frank Miguel Jerez, Yaniris Jerez and Carlos Milan.

Yaniris and Milan are married with two sons.

Yaniris underwent surgery and is in stable condition at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital. After surgery, doctors said that she is very lucky to be able to walk again.

Milan, who suffered the most serious injuries, is in critical condition after he was shot four times. While injured, he still went over to his wife to protect her until paramedics arrived.

Frank, who is Yaniris’ brother, is in critical condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital. He underwent surgery and is expected to have a long road to recovery after he was shot in the abdomen. Doctors are hopeful that Frank will make a full recovery.

As of Monday, the Doral Police officer who was shot is recovering at home and is expected to make a full recovery.

Castellanos’ loved ones have started a GoFundMe page to help with funeral expenses and help support his family. If you would like to make a donation, click here.

Speaking with reporters hours after early Saturday morning’s incident at Martini Bar, Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez credited active shooter training with helping prepare them for a real situation like this one.

“We credit that with saving lives today,” said Lopez. “Just one year ago, we had a multi-agency mass casualty active shooter drill at the same establishment.”

Video of the exercise showed officers practicing their response to a mass casualty event at CityPlace Doral

“So, it’s annual training. Our officers from multi agencies have established communication protocols, so they know the exact terminology to use,” said Lopez. “When an incident like this occurs, you have every single law enforcement agency that surrounds this community responding to the scene. And that’s what makes South Florida special, and that’s what makes this community one of the safest communities in this country.”

Nevertheless, six innocent bystanders and a Doral Police officer were shot and taken to hospitals where two patients are listed in critical condition and four are said to be stable.

The injured police officer has served for four years. He suffered a wound to a lower extremity.

Some of the victims are being treated at Ryder Trauma Center.

There are currently three active investigations into the shooting at CityPlace Doral.

The Ed Ansin Best Buddies Friendship Walk, held Saturday morning at loanDepot Park in Miami, welcomed people of all ages.

Among the participants in the special annual event was 7News anchor Craig Stevens, who stepped up to the mic as the event’s emcee.

“Good morning, good morning, good morning. How are we?” he asked as the crowd responded with loud and enthusiastic cheers.

The fun-filled event featured walkers from across the country in support of the organization, which helps support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“I feel great, I’m excited. I love this organization, and we try so raise some money to help everybody, you know what I’m saying?” said Best Buddies Ambassador Duane Chin Loy.

Best Buddies aims to make the world more welcoming to everyone. The organization’s executive vice president, Mark Lewis, said the event’s importance is for a multitude of reasons, and he is grateful.

“It brings the community together. I actually grew up in this area — Allapattah, Little Havana. You’re gonna find out that some of our supporters here today, that have supported our organization the most, actually also grew up in this area,” he said, “and I think anything that brings together our population, socializes them, is enormously important.”

The Friendship Walk also supports the Best Buddies programs in schools, workplaces and communities.

7News is a proud sponsor. WSVN co-president and general manager Paul Magnes said the late Ed Ansin would love what this event is doing with the community.

“In his memory to do this walk. He loved walking, he loved being out in the community and making a difference,” said Magnes. “That’s what [Best Buddies International’s founder, chairman and CEO] Anthony Shriver and the Best Buddies community does for so many people in our community.”

Magnes said he’s proud to have this partnership.

“We’ve been part of Best Buddies, sponsoring them for many years, and we’re going to continue that partnership for many years to come,” he said. “We can’t think of a better way to get out in the community and make a difference for people and follow in Mr. Anthony’s footsteps.”

Participants said they appreciate the event and are thankful for what it does to our community.

Chin Loy said he got a job at a law firm thanks to the Best Buddies Foundation.

“Best Buddies is wonderful, man. I love it because it helps people like me be more included in society, with jobs, friendships,” he said, “and even now, they have a new thing which is Independent Living, and stuff like that, so Best Buddies is awesome, man.”

In 2023, the Friendship Walk raised more than $300,000. The Best Buddies Foundation is hoping to surpass that goal.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers responded to the scene of the crash in the area of Southwest 132nd Avenue, just after 6 a.m., Saturday.

According to investigators, the driver of a red Nissan sedan was stopped at a traffic signal when a Ford SUV rear-ended the vehicle at a high rate of speed.

Authorities said the man who was driving the Nissan and the woman who was driving the Ford died at the scene.

Troopers said a minor secondary collision involving four other vehicles took place shortly after the first crash, resulting in minor injuries.

Troopers temporarily shut down U.S. 1 at Southwest 129th Street while they investigated.

Video posted to Instagram showed Onyxia Delinois at the Miami Half Marathon back in January.

More than two months after the post, the 26-year-old is at the hospital in critical condition.

Delinois, an insurance broker, was out running in Miramar, Saturday morning.

Police said the victim was heading eastbound along Miramar Parkway, near 183rd Street, when a driver hit her and took off.

Miramar Police detectives are looking for help on the case.

Delinois’ Instagram account shows she just celebrated her first year of marriage in March. Now her family is by her side, hopeful for her recovery and for information that leads to a suspect.

If you have any information on this hit-and-run or the driver’s whereabouts, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the Robinson R-44 went down at around 1:50 p.m. on Saturday after the pilot reported engine issues.

Video posted on social media showed onlookers at the scene and the helicopter in the water.

“I was just lying on the beach, and I’m looking out into the ocean . All of a sudden, I see a helicopter kind of get a little low,” said eyewitness Christopher Rodriguez, “and it keeps getting low, it keeps getting down, and all of a sudden, wham,’ hits the ground really loud.”

Beachgoers who spoke with 7News were startled by the rare sight off of Key Biscayne’s shore, just blocks away from Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park.

Rodriguez said he panicked.

“Everyone at the beach starts freaking out,” he said.

Rodriguez added that first responders arrived shortly after the crash.

“I’ve got to say, I think it was Coast Guard or the first responders, whoever arrived at the scene were very fast, I’d say within a minute,” said Rodriguez. “The helicopter wasn’t even fully underwater yet, and the first responders were there.”

Witnesses said a police marine unit rescued the pilot within minutes.

“I saw a raft appear, and I believe a man came up,” said Rodriguez. “A couple of helicopters came around, and that’s pretty much all that happened.”

Investigators said the pilot was the only person on board the aircraft, and he was assessed and treated at the scene.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue officials said the pilot suffered minor injuries but was not taken to the hospital.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash, with NTSB taking the lead in the ongoing investigation.

This year’s festivities include the installation of a vibrant work of art on Lincoln Road.

Natalie Zlamalova, one of the artists from AMLgMATD studio who were behind the installation, spoke with 7News Thursday night. She said it was an honor to offer this creation.

“We’re just stunned that we pulled it off. We’ve been here for 80-plus hours hanging out in palm trees and the heat and during all times of night,” said Zlamalova, “so, to finally see this piece finished and just flapping proudly in the wind above Lincoln Road is amazing to us. A dream come true, I can say.”

The project, known as “Pride 24/7,” deconstructs the six colors of the Pride flag, weaving them among the palm trees along Lincoln Road.

Pride festivities continue throughout the week, culminating in a parade on Ocean Drive on Sunday, April 14.

Back on March 7, Miami-Dade County gave the marine park the boot, giving them six weeks to vacate the Virginia Key property because of alleged lease violations

“The current state of the Miami Seaquarium is unsustainable and unsafe,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.

But park officials are speaking out Thursday, They sent a letter to Miami-Dade Chief Operating Officer Jimmy Morales.

In the letter, officials asserted their right to a 45-day correction period and outlined actions they’re taking to comply with their lease, starting with maintenance of the premises.

The letter reads in part that they have “established a routine maintenance schedule to regularly assess and maintain the condition of the premises, preventing future neglect or deterioration.”

When it comes to the animals, park officials said they have “reviewed and enhanced our animal care policies in consultation with [the U.S. Department of Agriculture] and veterinary experts to ensure they meet the highest standards of animal welfare.”

Moreover, park officials wrote, they’ve “revitalized our health monitoring system that includes regular checkups, nutritional assessments, and behavioral observations to ensure all animals are healthy and thriving.”

Officials also said they’ve “initiated an environmental impact review to ensure that our operations are fully compliant with environmental regulations.”

Whether or not any of this will make a difference to the county’s decision to evict the Miami Seaquarium remains unclear.

Park officials ended their letter by requesting a meeting with Miami-Dade County.

Thursday night, a spokesperson for Levine Cava’s office said they have received the Miami Seaquarium’s letter and will review the information provided in it.

According to North Miami Police, 63-year-old Theodul Cherelus has not come home since Tuesday at around 1 p.m. and may be in danger.

Cherelus was last seen near 18th Avenue and Northeast 148th Street.

Investigators said he may be wearing a gray shirt with black shorts and no shoes.

Officials urge anyone with information on Cherelus. whereabouts to call North Miami Police at 305-891-8111.

During Thursday’s stop in Davie, DeSantis described how more money will be coming to Florida from the Seminole Indian Tribe after signing Senate Bill 1638 into law.

The money will be allocated into restoration programs for the Florida Everglades and the South Florida Water Management District. The agency is expected to receive millions of dollars each year.

“For necessary repairs and upgrades to both the Central and South Florida water management systems, so this is a really big deal,” said DeSantis.

The Seminole Indian Tribe fought hard to offer table games in a sports book. In 2021, the tribe entered an agreement with the state to offer sports book gambling through their app at their property in Hollywood.

As part of the agreement, the Seminole Indian Tribe will share upwards of $750 million a year with Florida.

“Historic day indeed, and as a native Floridian, this truly warms our hearts,” said Seminole Tribe of Florida Chairman Marcellus Osceola Jr.

The breakdown of how those funds will be distributed includes the following:

• $150 million for South Florida Water Management District
• $100 million for the Resilient Florida Grant Program, which helps residents prepare their homes for storms
• $100 million for the Florida Everglades to assist with the removal of invasive species

Anything left over will go toward water quality improvement grant programs.

“You’re looking at about $450 million, probably in future years, every year, for quality improvement grant programs,” said DeSantis.

The governor said the signing of this bill will be a win-win for Florida and the programs that will be benefited.

“This bill is going to now dedicate the bulk of the Florida gaming revenue from the Seminole Tribe Compact to conservation efforts, and this is going to be done in ways that are going to be very beneficial,” he said.

Ten Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to the scene of the blaze along Northwest 30th Avenue and 60th Street, ar around 3:35 p.m., Wednesday.

First responders arrived to find heavy fire and smoke coming out of the front door and window of the single-story structure.

Officials said one person was inside at the time but managed to get out safely along with three pets.

Crews were able to knock down the flames.

One firefighter suffered a minor injury battling the flames and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

The home was gutted. The American Red Cross was requested to assist the occupants impacted by the fire.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The motorist’s truck on Wednesday was on a boat ramp near Griffin Road when it suddenly slid into the water.

The driver was able to get out of the truck safely.

Cellphone video captured the moment when Captains Bronson Stubbs and Michael Rivero from Biscayne Bay Pilots spotted the victim, Wednesday morning.

“How you doin’, buddy? Woooo! That’s a lucky day there,” one of the captains is heard saying.

It was a lucky morning for this boater, after a very rough go overnight.

“There’s your raft,” one of the captains is heard saying as they threw a flotation device to the man who was stranded in the Atlantic, miles away from shore, for hours.

“He had gone out last night. I think his boat sank about 2 o’clock in the morning, he said,” said Stubbs. “We found him at 8:30, so I guess he’d been in the water six and a half hours.”

Thankfully, Stubbs and Rivero were out on the water.

“Come swim over here, man. We’ll get you up the stern,” one of the captains is heard telling the victim.

Stubbs said they were out doing their job.

“To navigate to ships in and out safely, dock the ships and make sure the commerce keeps flowing safely — cruise ships, container ships,” said Stubbs.

The captains were guiding a foreign ship into PortMiami when they received a distress call from someone aboard that big vessel, because of a man spotted miles out in the Atlantic, separated from his sinking boat.

“They had a man overboard. They see someone in the water,” said Stubbs.

“His boat was about half a mile from where he was. The boat was just still barely floating,” said Rivero.

“He was hanging onto something. We don’t know exactly what it was,” said Stubbs.

But thanks to these good Samaritans and their life preserver, this stranded boater was pulled to safety and onto their Pilot boat.

The boater had been alone fishing, late Tuesday night, before his boat overturned.

“He said, ‘No, I’m the only one. My boat capsized,'” said Rivero. “He was super nervous. He couldn’t talk; he just looked like he was very stressed out.”

Fortunately, the boater was not injured.

“Very lucky,” said Stubbs.

This was a rare day for these captains, but not quite as rare as one might think. Stubbs and Rivero said they see a lot out on these waters, and every now and again, they have to put their lifesaving hat on.

“Yeah, we do a lot of search and rescue, just natural stuff from being on the water all the time,” said Stubbs. “You know, you develop those skills.”

“We’re always ready,” said Rivero.

And, once their impromptu boating partner was dry and safe, he was all smiles with his heroes.

“He was in the right place at the right time,” said Rivero.

Stubbs and Rivero said their most common external problem concerns boaters who go too fast and make a wake near the port. They hope boaters can slow that activity down and behave themselves while on the water.

The stranded boater refused first aid after his rough night and lucky morning.

City of Miami Police said reports of the man near Northwest 29th Street and 13th Avenue came in around 7 a.m. on Wednesday.

According to police, the cellphone company called authorities when they found out a man was impersonating an employee.

Around 11 a.m., the man was brought down and interviewed by police.

“He apologized, and right now the negotiating team is talking to him,” said Miami Police Officer Michael Vega.

Detectives said the man, identified as 38-year-old Richard Smith, shut off the cell tower, causing an alarm to go off.

The sirens prompted a real T-Mobile worker to be dispatched to the transmitter and check on the situation. When the worker arrived, they found Smith who tried to convince the T-Mobile worker to climb with him.

“The T-Mobile worker gets on the scene and sees that where you turn on and off the power, it was shut of — so, this was manually done — and notices that there’s somebody on the tower,” added Vega. “He starts talking about God and [asks the worker], ‘Please, see the view with me.'”

Video footage captured Smith, wearing a vibrant red shirt, climbing the tower like a jungle gym level by level, as high up as 150 feet in the air, with a Bible tucked in his waistband.

“It’s crazy, like Spider-Man.” said onlooker Nima Zandy.

“He tampered with the equipment up there. He threw things down, he wasn’t listening to officers’ commands to come down,” said Vega.

At one point, he was seen unhooking clamps that connect power to the cell tower.

“Those gray boxes that you see up on the tower, they are actually very hot,” said Vega. “So he knows what he’s doing, because he’s avoiding touching those boxes.”

Officials said that some cellphone services may be affected by this incident. Authorities were forced to block off the nearby area as they investigated.

“He was saying that, ‘I’ve got a job to do, I’ve got to finish my job,'” said Vega.

Although he was seen throwing objects off the tower, Smith’s intentions remain unknown.

Crisis negotiators spent about four hours speaking with Smith.

Meanwhile, local business owners like Zandy, who works for Keto Kitchen | 2GO, were also affected.

“The delivery guy had to park all the way over there, and then we had to come with everything,” he said. “It was really complicated.”

When he came down, at around 11 a.m., Smith thanked the first responders there.

“Once he felt that his job was done, then he came down voluntarily, shook hands with the officers, with the firefighters there,” said Vega. “He thanked them all and cooperated 100% with us.”

T-Mobile released the following statement:

After our systems alerted us that there was a service issue at this site, which we and other providers lease from a vendor, our field technician responded, determined that there was an unauthorized entry, and called local authorities. We are grateful to the Miami Police Department and Miami Fire Rescue for their response and will continue to support their investigation. Fortunately, everyone is safe and overlapping coverage in the area will continue to ensure customers remain connected.

T-Mobile

After he came down, Smith was taken into custody to get checked out by paramedics.

He was charged with burglary of unoccupied structure and criminal mischief over $1,000.

Lauderhill Police and Fire Rescue units responded to the scene of the shooting near Northwest 58th Avenue and 17th Street. at around 9:40 p.m., Monday.

The injured victim told police his vehicle was taken.

Paramedics transported the patient to an area hospital with a gunshot wound. Police said his injury was not life-threatening.

If you have any information on this shooting or the subject’s whereabouts, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.

According to Pembroke Pines Police, the subjects stole more than $1,200 worth of items from the retailer’s location at 11253 Pines Blvd.

Investigators said the trio tricked a cashier into loading money on a gift card, then used it to buy electronics.

If you have any information on this theft or the subjects’ whereabouts, call Pembroke Pines Police at 954-743-1640.

The crime scene tape at the home in Plantation’s Jacaranda Lakes neighborhood is gone, but the horror of what unfolded inside is coming to light.

Plantation Police on Monday released the arrest affidavit for 40-year-old Jean Carlos Aponte.

The suspect was last seen in court Sunday in a suicide prevention gown, after he was charged with premeditated first-degree murder for the deaths of his wife, Sara Ashley Gama, and their 2-year-old son Ethan.

“Mr. Aponte, I do find probable cause. I reviewed the paperwork this morning, two counts of premeditated murder of two individuals,” said Broward Circuit Court Judge Elijah Williams.

That probable cause comes from the details in the new report. It goes on to say that Gama suffered “twenty-eight (28) stab wounds,” killing her.

The report states Gama put up a fight. It says she had “defensive wounds on both hands.”

As for Ethan, who would have turned 3 in April, the report states he also suffered from “stab wounds,” and he also had “defensive injuries to his left hand.”

However, the report states that the toddler’s ultimate cause of death was “determined to be sharp force injury and drowning.”

Investigators said Gama’s father discovered the horrific scene. They said he found Gama lying in the kitchen not breathing and Aponte unconscious in the master bedroom.

But it was police who found Ethan face down in the swimming pool.

“He was a beautiful little boy, and I never heard anything,” said Gilda Howell, who knows the family. “They were – he was always outside. They played all the time; I was across the street with the kids all the time ’cause they would go back and forth. This is a very friendly – I’m sorry, I’m just so devastated.”

The report states officers found Aponte with a “faint pulse.” He was given Narcan because he appeared to be suffering from a narcotic overdose and taken to the hospital, where he now is set to face the consequences.

Meanwhile, neighbors are trying to process how a husband and father could commit such a crime.

“How does this happen? What happened?” said Howell.

The couple also had a newborn baby. Police said the infant was unharmed and is currently living with grandparents.

The First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale reopened its nearly 3,000-seat auditorium in time for service, Sunday morning.

After almost a year of being closed due to flood damage and financial hardships, parishioners excited and relieved to see their church restored.

A churchgoer who identified herself as Serena said she is grateful that the house of worship is once again fully open.

“Oh, I think its incredible. It’s definitely a huge thing, huge movement, especially in heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale, for everyone here. Great place to praise God,” she said.

The damage happened last April when a storm flooded portions of Broward County. Many homes and businesses were damaged.

The fate of abortion rights in the Sunshine State has moved, from now, from the hands of lawmakers to those of the Supreme Court.

The question before justices: should Floridians be able to vote on an amendment to the state constitution protecting the right to an abortion?

The Supreme Court must decide if the proposal can appear on the November ballot. It reads:

“No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.”

These 26 words would establish the right to an abortion in the state of Florida, despite what the Legislature may pass.

Courtney Brewer was among those who argued in favor of the proposal to the justices.

“The language of the amendment is clear,” she said.

And that’s all justices need to decide. Is the wording clear and not misleading? Does it stick to one topic?

Proponents who gathered more than a million signatures to get the measure on the ballot say it meets the test.

“There is nothing misleading. The opponents have not identified anything misleading,” said Brewer.

But those same opponents disagree, indicating that the language is vague and goes too far.

“This amendment should not be approved because it violates the single subject rule,” said Mat Staver, who argued against the proposal to the justices. “There’s four words that doom this amendment: ‘no law shall restrict.’ That is breathtakingly broad.”

The justices, five of whom were appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, have their own questions.

“Every regulation restricts something,” said Staver.

“But if you’re right, and that’s clear on the face of the proposal, what do we to do about it?” said Florida Supreme Court Justice John D. Couriel.

“Strike it down and not allow it, because that cannot go on the ballot,” said Staver.

“The people of Florida aren’t stupid. I mean, they can figure this out,” said Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz.

After arguments back in February, both sides continued to make their case outside the court.

“Those who argue for an unrestricted right to abortion want to try to solve the abortion debate by just eliminating one side of the debate,” said Father Frank Pavone with Priests for Life.

“This amendment literally throws women into the back alleys of abortion, because it deregulates abortion,” said another detractor of the proposal.

But Nikki Fried, Chair of the Florida Democratic Party, said there is nothing vague or problematic about the amendment.

“The language is clear. The people of the state and the people of this country understand this issue,” she said.

“Floridians really do not want politicians interfering with their private decisions,” said Lauren Brenzel with Floridians Protecting Freedom.

But for the state Supreme Court, the question isn’t abortion, but can the amendment be placed directly to Florida voters.

DeSantis weighed in on the matter briefly during a South Florida stop last week.

“Anytime you file those amendments, there are certain rules that you have to follow, so we’ll have to see what ends up happening, and then we’ll go from there,” he said.

The decision is expected to be announced at around 4 p.m. on Monday.

Stay tuned for live reports starting Monday on 7News at Noon.

The reckless ride ended with a black Toyota sedan plunging into Government Cut, near South Pointe Park.

Andres Asion, who lives nearby, said he heard the crash at around 7 a.m.

“I couldn’t see any cars in the street. When I pan over, and I look at the water, I see the car floating in the water,” he said.

Asion said he called 911 and started recording the water-logged vehicle on his cellphone.

“This guy is drunk, just came from a bar, thought that that was the road, was hauling [expletive] down the boardwalk of the marina and flew over the barrier here and landed in the water,” Asion said in the video as he spoke directly at the camera.

Surveillance video from a nearby building shows the car driving at full speed on South Pointe Park’s paved walking path before it careened into the Atlantic.

A family told officers they were sitting right across from where it happened.

“We saw a car coming because we heard the noise,” said a woman. “He tried to switch, but he couldn’t.”

Miami Beach Police said 22-year-old Yandeivy Chaves Dominguez was behind the wheel of the Toyota.

Asion recorded video showing officers speaking with the young man.

“This is the driver being administered the sobriety test,” Asion is heard saying in the video.

Chaves Dominguez was taken into custody and placed in handcuffs after he failed that field sobriety test.

“He was obviously shaken up. He was extremely cold — the water was chilly — he was intoxicated,” said Asion.

Meanwhile, divers with Miami Beach Fire Rescue made sure no one else was in the car.

“Fire rescue’s going into the water to clear the vehicle to make sure nobody else is in the vehicle,” Asion is heard saying in the cellphone video.

A truck eventually hoisted the Toyota out of the water and towed it away.

Asion said he’s just glad the driver, though now behind bars, survived and that this crash wasn’t worse.

“There were people sitting right here on the pier. Thank God they were on the opposite side, because they obviously would have gotten killed,” he said.

Police said no one else was hurt in this incident.

Plantation Police on Sunday confirmed the arrest of Jean Carlos Aponte.

Also on Sunday, the suspect went before Broward Circuit Court Judge Elijah Williams wearing a suicide prevention gown. The 40-year-old faces two counts of premeditated first-degree murder.

“Mr. Aponte, I do find probable cause. I reviewed the paperwork this morning, two counts of premeditated murder of two individuals,” said Williams.

Aponte’s arrest comes after 38-year-old Sara Ashley Gama and her son Ethan were found dead inside their home in Plantation on Tuesday.

Plantation Fire Rescue divers were seen looking for evidence inside of a canal behind the couple’s home.

A welfare check led police to Aponte and Gama’s residence in the Jacaranda Lakes neighborhood, near Northwest 11th Street and Ninth Avenue, where officers discovered the bodies.

Ethan was about to turn 3 in April. On Monday, 7News cameras captured flowers, messages and a “Happy Birthday” balloon placed outside of his home to honor his special day.

Video sent to 7News showed Ethan happy and laughing.

“He was a beautiful little boy, and I never heard anything,” said Gilda Howell, who knows the family. “They were – he was always outside. They played all the time; I was across the street with the kids all the time ’cause they would go back and forth. This is a very friendly – I’m sorry, I’m just so devastated.”

Aponte and Gama recently had a newborn baby. That infant is now with family.

Police said Aponte planned the murders and then attempted to take his own life.

When officers arrived at the home, they found the suspect unresponsive from a possible drug overdose.

“They took Jean out in an ambulance, but we haven’t seen Sara or Ethan. The baby’s with the grandparents,” said Howell.

“A really nice couple. Never said anything bad about Sara,” said neighbor John Goodish. “Not a sound, and I’m in the kitchen all the time.”

Aponte was taken to a local hospital. Once he recovered, he was charged with the murders.

In a Facebook post from December, a pregnant Gama wrote, “The best presents I could ask for.”

Friends of the couple said they seemed happy.

“How does this happen? What happened?” said Howell.

In court Sunday, the suspect was denied bond and was ordered to get a mental health screening.

The manner of death in which Aponte killed his wife and child has not been confirmed.

Aponte remains at the Broward County Jail on a no-bond hold.

Speaking with 7News through a translator, Meidelyn Cabrera said she believes the shooting that claimed the life of Leandro Ledea Chong was unjust.

Chong was fatally shot by Homestead Police officers inside his home, located along Sunrise Boulevard, Saturday morning. He was 31 years old.

“When I got there, I started screaming that they had killed him,” said Cabrera.

Cabrera said she dated and lived with Ledea Chong for two years. After their separation, she said, she still took care of him, living just two homes away.

Cabrera claims her ex-boyfriend should have never been killed because he was mentally ill.

“I showed Homestead Police his mental health papers when they had arrived,” she said.

On Friday, video posted on social media by Homestead Social shows Ledea Chong being surrounded by Homestead Police officers.

However, they decided to disengage because, investigators said, he was not a threat at the time.

But on Saturday, police said, they were forced to fire their weapons.

“An incident did occur with the officers where the officers were forced to fire their firearms,” said Homestead Police Capt. Fernando Morales.

Police have not confirmed whether or not Ledea Chong was armed at the time of the incident.

But Cabrera said they were aware that he was ill.

“It was the same cops that came in the morning and at night,” she said.

Cabrera also said she had called a crisis health center to come help her ex-boyfriend.

“In the end, they had just sent police for this ending,” she said.

The officers involved in the shooting remain on administrative leave, as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement continues to investigate.

Miramar Police and Fire Rescue units responded to the scene of the hit-and-run at the intersection of Miramar Parkway and Red Road, early Sunday morning.

Investigators said the victims were heading west on Miramar Parkway when someone slammed into them from behind, launching them into the air.

The scooter caught fire and was left in pieces on the road.

Detectives said the driver of the car involved fled the scene.

Paramedics transported the two injured men to Memorial Regional Hospital. Their injuries were not life-threatening.

Police continue to investigate.

If you have any information on this hit-and-run or the driver’s whereabouts, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.

Sunrise Police units responded to the scene of the crash at Sunset Animal Hospital. located along Sunset Strip, near Nob Hill Road, just after 11:30 p.m., Saturday.

Surveillance video captured the moment of impact.

Speaking with 7News on Sunday, the hospital’s owners, Dr. Cristina Polit and Alfonso Reyes. said they’re still in shock over the late night crash.

“We still don’t understand how this happened,” said Polit.

“Thank God no one was in the office,” said Reyes.

An office that’s usually packed with people and their furry friends had a white Lincoln parked inside instead.

“There was car in my waiting room, so we ran over here,” said Polit.

Polit and Reyes said the man driving the Lincoln was not hurt. Apparently, they said, he got his foot stuck to the gas pedal.

“Something happened with his legs, supposedly, and he wasn’t taken into custody. I mean, he was just let go,” said Reyes.

Police said the motorist was alone in the vehicle, and they confirmed he had no signs of driving under the influence

“We’ll just have to work different hours this week,” said.

But clean-up is already underway way.

Polit and Reyes said they are just grateful none of their patients were hurt

“Thank God all of our patients were safe, and they’re in the back and, obviously, we’re going to be able to open and operate because we have- the other side of the business is OK, but we have to fix this overnight to make sure that we’re open by Monday,” said Reyes.

The Lincoln was later towed from the scene.

The entrance to the animal hospital has since been boarded up with plywood. The owners said they have been at this location 10 years.