Frightening video, released Friday, shows a man in a hoodie walking up to the white Dodge with a large gun in his hand, opening the driver’s side door, then the other doors and hopping inside.

“Two large updates that I’ll provide today,” said Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma on Monday.

According to the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect’s vehicle, a green Acura, was located abandoned at an empty apartment complex in Orange County over the weekend. Police said inside the car was the driver, who was set on fire.

Twelve 10mm shell casings were also found around the torched vehicle.

“So, the car has been out on the streets probably, since February, unregistered, undocumented, with a license plate,” said Lemma. “A tow truck driver was found murdered in Orange County, at that scene, a green vehicle matching the description of this green vehicle was located, and there was more than 100 rounds fired at that location.”

The sheriff said that a good percentage of the rounds that were found on the scene are 10mm rounds, which are the same size as the rounds found on Guerrero’s car as well as the same size of the gun in the released video.

“Which is, again, an incredibly unique and uncommon round for us to see out on the streets,” said Lemma.

Despite the recovery of the car, law enforcement officials have yet to apprehend the individuals responsible for the carjacking and subsequent death of De Aguasvivas. The victim was discovered deceased inside her vehicle, which had been set ablaze on the day of the incident.

Adding to the complexity of the case, an Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputy was arrested over the weekend for allegedly disclosing confidential information to the victim’s family. That deputy was identified as 33-year-old Francisco Estrella. He faces five felony charges.

“Eavesdropping and illegal interception of communication, a third-degree felony. Invading privacy, illegal disclosure communication, a third-degree felony,” said a judge.

Authorities claim the deputy secretly recorded and shared sensitive details related to the investigation to Guerrero’s husband, a long time family-friend.

Deputies said Estrella called the lead detective under a fake name and asked about the case. He told the detective that he was a family member.

That conversation between the detective and Estrella was secretly being recorded and then was handed over to Miguel, Guerrero’s husband, according to police.

The conversation was later found on Miguel’s phone, once he allowed deputies to look through it. During the search of the phone, they found Estrella also gave him information about the deputy working on the case.

“Two of those charges relate to unlawfully accessing a police database, and particularly the DAVID system, that release unique characteristics of the home address, photographs, and signatures of the lead investigator in this case,” said Lemma.

Deputies are still looking for more information about the two people in that green Acura. An investigation is underway into the motive of this brutal homicide.

Officers responded to over 100 protesters who were in front of Bayside Marketplace in downtown Miami, at around 1 p.m., Monday.

“Netanyahu, what do you say,” said protesters, waving signs with messages for support of Palestine.

City of Miami officers appeared in riot gear, on horseback, and on motorcycles to prevent the protesters from advancing. Police officers were joined by state troopers and armored vehicles.

7Skyforce flew over the area as protesters were being arrested and taken into a transport van.

Several protesters were also seen being dragged from the street by police after they tried to lie down and block traffic to PortMiami. After repeatedly trying to block traffic, some were arrested by the police.

According to Miami Police, seven people were arrested due to obstructing traffic and refusing to remain in the designated area. They were charged with Obstructing Traffic and Breach of the Peace/unlawful assembly.

A few demonstrators who spoke to 7News shared they did not have ties to Palestine or were Palestinian but still wanted to show support for the cause.

“We are here to let South Florida know that we stand with the Palestinian people and that they deserve aid, they deserve water, they deserve food, they deserve to eat their food with their families, they deserve to grow up with dreams,” said protester Valentina Jadue.

The protest is part of a coordinated effort across the country to block several economic hubs like airports and port terminals to demand a cease-fire in Gaza.

Monday marks Tax Day in America, and Monday’s protesters disagree that taxpayers’ dollars should be used to support the war in Israel.

“After October 7, they have given more tax dollars, what we’re saying is that money could better be used to address the housing crisis in the US, the public education issue, the lack of accessible food and affordable housing, and better transportation,” said protester Libra Sankara.

In addition, the protesters in attendance talk about solutions to end what they are calling a genocide toward the Palestinian people.

Towards the end of the protest, a few people came out on the corner of Biscayne and 2nd Street to show their support for Israel.

“We’re both living in the same land, we’re not going anywhere. And I will always fight for my right to live peacefully in my own land, I will fight for theirs as well,” said Jesse Fromer, Israel supporter. 

Katherine Altagracia Guerrero De Aguasvias, 31, of Homestead, was attacked and kidnapped at gunpoint Thursday afternoon at an intersection northeast of Orlando, Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma said during a news conference on Friday.

“What we are now investigating is a homicide,” said Lemma.

Video showed the moment the victim was hijacked in the Winter Springs area of Seminole County. A man with am automatic 10 mm gun appears to approach the woman’s white Dodge SUV, opens the driver’s door, unlocks the doors and gets into the vehicle with her.

A witness called police about the scary sight.

“There’s a guy going down East Lake Drive in Seminole County, he was chasing a car, hit the car, got out of his car wit a hood over his face, and he had a machine gun, it looked like,” said the caller.

Lemma said investigators found what they believe was her burning SUV with her body inside less than two hours later in a rural area of Osceola County, just south of Orlando.

This comes after people nearby heard gunshots and saw smoke.

“Something exploded,” said a woman in cellphone video showing the smoke.

“By the time authorities with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office arrived there, there was so much damage to the vehicle, you could not positively identify the vehicle,” said Lemma. “But they also discovered that one person was deceased and found in that vehicle.”

Near the vehicle, authorities said, they found 12 shell casings of 10 mm rounds.

Investigators will use dental records and DNA to confirm the body’s identity.

Authorities said they are searching to confirm many other details as well, like why was Guerrero De Aguasvias in Seminole County?

“We were told she was here visiting family. We were not able to confirm that she has any family member here,” said Lemma.

Guerrero De Aguasvias was at an intersection just outside of Winter Springs when a green Acura began to ram her SUV prior to the carjacking, Lemma said.

“At that time, she picks up the phone and called her husband, told her husband that she was being rammed, that there was somebody there that was following her,” said Lemma.

Guerrero De Aguasvias’ husband told her not to stop, authorities said.

“To not call 911 is something that, again, I don’t know the answer to that,” said Lemma.

Neither called the authorities, Lemma said. Another motorist called 911 and took a cell phone video of the carjacking. The video shows a passenger from the Acura pointing a gun at Guerrero De Aguasvias and then jumping in the back seat of her SUV before they drive off, followed by the Acura.

Lemma said investigators believe Guerrero De Aguasvias was targeted by the occupants of the Acura, but they don’t have a motive for the carjacking.

“She called her husband; husband said, ‘Don’t leave the car,’ no reports to law enforcement, that this was not a random act of violence, that the perpetrators knew who they were going after,” said Lemma. “Why they were going after them is something that is part of our ongoing, continuing investigation.”

Guerrero De Aguasvias has had no criminal history since moving to the U.S. five years ago, Lemma said.

Authorities urge anyone with information about the green older model Acura sedan to call 911.

Meanwhile, Guerrero’s family members have been gathering at a home in Homestead.

Neighbors said they devastated. One of them spoke to 7News through a translator.

“She was a good person. I went to give the family my condolences, and they are heartbroken, and so am I,” he said.

Family members said investigators have advised them not to speak with the media.

Deputies believe this was a targeted attack, as they continue to investigate.

Coconut Police Police said that a building manager and director of security who were employed by a Coconut Creek retirement community were arrested for allegedly stealing from one of its residents.

Wynmoor Village is a retirement community with over 9,000 residents.

O’Neil Elliott, the 43-year-old director of security, and condo building manager, Donald Fitch, 75, were both charged with burglary after allegedly entering the victim, John Agosta, unit after being transported from Wynmoor Village to the hospital after a slip and fall accident on March 15.

“The victim had a medical emergency, had to go to the hospital for a little while,” said Scotty Leamon, Coconut Creek Police Department.

Coconut Creek Police accuse the suspects of entering the apartment of an elderly resident after he was taken to the hospital under the pretense of securing a firearm.

The police report details that Fitch told Elliott “he heard a rumor that the victim had an issue involving a gun.”

Fitch and Elliott searched the victim’s car and condo unit for the gun but they weren’t able to retrieve it.

Neither man had any authorization to enter the apartment.

The resident’s son, Michael Agosta, reported that items were missing from his father’s safe including some ammunition and some coins worth an estimated $10,000.

“I’m very confused about this whole situation,” said Michael. “They took it upon himself at that during this time when he was in medical distress, being transported to the hospital to search his car and his apartment for his weapon that he reported missing in 2022.”

When Michael arrived at his father’s condo, he described what he saw.

“I looked at my dad’s apartment, it’s all disheveled. They went through everything,” said Michael.

The potential theft of those coins remains under investigation and neither man has been charged with stealing them.

Leamon said Elliott is also charged with taking ammunition from the victim.

“He is also charged with taking some ammunition,” said Leamon.

He appeared in bond court on Thursday.

“I do find probable cause for the arrest for the burglary of an unoccupied dwelling unarmed,” said the judge.

They were both ordered to have no contact with the victim, who is no longer hospitalized, nor return to the location of the crime.

Police are warning the public to make sure you always keep your valuables locked up.

“It’s important I think to lock things up you can buy a nice safe, you can bolt it to the ground, you want to make stuff harder to steal,” said Leamon.

Michael said once he came into town, the bullets showed back up. Now, he hopes his father’s $10,000 worth of silver coins also show back up.

“He had invested in Silver Eagles, Morgan dollars, He had graded coins, all in his safe,” said Michael. “He never locked his safe, he never thought he had any reason the lock is safe.”

The silver coins were Michael’s father’s form of saving and now they were ripped away from him by people who were supposed to protect him.

“I’m very upset,” said Michael. “My father was taken advantage of. I don’t know why they conducted a search for a weapon that doesn’t exist and then now his silver is missing.”

Both men were released from jail after posting their bonds.

Michael has set up a Gofundme to help raise the money in hopes of building his savings back up. If you’d like to donate, click here.

According to Miramar Police, Onyxia Delinois was out for a run Saturday morning, heading eastbound along Miramar Parkway near 183rd Street, when a driver hit her and took off.

“This was a heartless act and we just ask that whoever did this comes forth,” said Jose Rosales, traffic homicide investigator for Miramar Police.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Delinois’ husband, Roosevelt Delinois, was joined by Miramar Police and doctors who have been treating his wife and left his wife’s bedside for a few minutes to plead to the media for justice.

“My wife is amazing, she does so much for me and our family, She’s selfless.” Roosevelt said. “Someone else did this to her and just left her there.”

Onyxia is a passionate runner who is part of a group that runs several times a month.

After being struck, she was rushed to the hospital, where she now remains in a coma.

“She has a very, very serious critical head injury. She underwent emergency brain surgery and since that time, she’s been in a comatose state, I’m hoping that she regains function” said Memorial Regional Hospital Dr. Andrew Rosenthal.

Doctors say they are very concerned about her recovery and expect her to be in the hospital for weeks or months.

Meanwhile, Roosevelt has not left his wife’s side.

“I’m devastated,” he said. “How would you feel if this was your family member? How would you feel if this was your mom, your wife or your daughter?”

Police are now searching for the driver responsible for hitting Onyxia and leaving the scene.

“We’re looking for a vehicle that may have right damage to the vehicle in the front or side,” Rosales said.

Police hope that someone knows something about the person who did this.

“We would like to remind everybody that if this is your family, what would you like to be done,” said Rosales.

“She has helped me tremendously in my life, and I just want someone to say something, someone to come forward and say who did this to her,” said Roosevelt.

A GoFundMe was created to assist with Delinois’ medical expenses.

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.

Martin Zaretsky appeared before Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy S. Glazer, Tuesday morning. It was the 50-year-old’s first court appearance after he was arrested and charged with disturbing allegations.

“Sir, you were arrested for some serious charges — molestation charges, seven counts and, it says, offenses against students by authority figures, seven counts,” said Glazer.

The molestation charges against the suspect are seven counts of lewd and lascivious molestation on a child between 13 and 17 years old.

Zaretsky worked in the information technology department at Bob Graham Education Center in Miami Lakes, where he worked on computers.

Parents of students who attend the school did not hold back when addressing the allegations.

“It’s completely disgusting and gross,” said a parent.

“There’s complaints of people talking him 10 years ago, and nothing has been done,” said a second parent.

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 also stated that he also exchanged text messages with two of the victims on several occasions.

“God only knows how many other victims he had,” said the second parent.

The arrest report also states that there were several incidents in which Zaretsky would wait for the victims after school and would walk them to his office and give them candy. He also would take students out of their classes so they can skip them and accompany him walking around the school.

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

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.

In response to these allegations, 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

In court Tuesday, Glazer ordered Zaretsky to not have contact with the alleged victims, not have unsupervised contact with any minor children, and he must stay away from Bob Graham Education Center

The judge also set his bond to $70,000.

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

The 47-year-old Miami man now faces charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest without violence. His attorneys, Ben Crump and Larry Handfield, and family members spoke at a news conference following Armstrong’s arraignment to demand all charges to be dropped.

“First of all, it goes without saying what happened in that video is unconscionable,” said Crump. “She only wanted to get him help. She did not expect for him to get six bullets in his torso.”

The civil rights attorneys have been hired to represent Armstrong after an encounter with Miami Police on March 7 at Northwest 58th Street and Seventh Court, where he was tased twice and shot six times. The incident has since led to outrage and calls for justice.

“I just called the police to get him so help. I need y’all just to pray for him please,” said Denise Armstrong, Donald’s mother. “Do that for me, please, Lord.”

Donald, who was experiencing a mental health episode at the time of the police response, was filmed by bystanders during the confrontation. Video evidence showed Donald at the entrance of the home, allegedly holding a screwdriver. In that same video, Donald lifts his shirt to prove he was unarmed before being tased twice and shot six times by officers.

“That’s excessive. That’s the very definition of excessive. A man on the ground and you continue to empty the clip and then you charge him with aggravated assault,” said Crump.

“I think the video shows that the sole basis of filing allegations of aggravated assault was to cover up for the reckless conduct exhibited by one officer,” said Handfield.

He is now experiencing some paralysis and is being held in the jail’s medical ward.

While Denise couldn’t get through many other words, her attorneys did. Donald’s legal team said that the video clearly shows excessive force being used as several shots were fired even after he had already fallen to the ground.

“It is shocking, it’s deplorable, it’s horrific,” Crump said. “It is what you would teach officers if you wanted to show them what not to do.”

“This was a 911 call for a mental health issue crisis, but instead, he received six bullets that could’ve taken his life,” Handfield said.

One day after the shooting, the family’s pastor, the Rev. Dr. Gaston E. Smith, spoke out about the incident.

“I do know that he was dealing with some emotional, perhaps mental concerns, that his mother was concerned about,” he said in an interview with 7News on March 8. “She reached out for help. She did not reach out for her son to be shot multiple times.”

Crump continued to question the officer’s respond during the incident.

“If it was really a dangerous situation, where all those officers felt their lives were in danger, then they should have had everybody shoot,” he said. “But the other officers didn’t shoot because they knew that it wasn’t a dangerous situation to warrant that use of deadly force.”

Miami Police Chief Manny Morales released a statement following the shooting, saying in part, “I pledge to ensure that our department does better in addressing calls involving mental and behavioral issues.”

Now, the Armstrong family wants the charges of aggregated assault to be dropped and for Donald to recover from his injuries at home. His attorneys are also not ruling out a potential lawsuit.

“How many videos like this do we have to see? We’re going to look at exploring every possible legal redress to this injustice,” Crump said. “What happened on that video was excessive and if we don’t hold police officers accountable, it might be your child next, that’s what this is about.”

Miami Police said that the case is being investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Internal Affairs.

Armstrong is being held without bond in a jail hospital. A hearing has been set for Thursday to address a request for a bond to be set in this case.

Students and staff at FIU filled the lawn of their school on Monday afternoon, as they took turns peeking through the two telescopes provided by the school or looked at the eclipse through their safety glasses.

“I am so excited for this,” said FIU student Michelle Nassimos. “I’m glad that FIU is doing like a free public viewing.”

The next time students and staff will get to experience a natural phenomenal like this will be in 20 years.

“It’s crazy. Who knows, you know, if we’re going to be, you know, alive in another 20 years, so, gotta experience it today,” said Nassimos.

For other curious students wanting to see the eclipse, the experience was very new.

“It feels like something out of a movie, like, I’ve never seen one before, and it looks really cool how you can see the shadow of the moon on the sun,” said Laly, another FIU student.

“I’ve never got to see this event before, and it’s, for me, it’s fascinating,” said Amelie Perez.

“I’m so excited, I love stuff like this,” said FIU student Acayah Brand. “Just seeing it, and having the telescope and the glasses provided for us, it makes me really happy, ’cause I like the solar stuff and, like, the space things.”

A Ph.D. student at FIU told 7News that the school saw 46% of the moon covering the sun.

Dr. James Webb, a professor at FIU, helped set up the viewing party. He said he is glad to hear the students’ feedback.

“Actually, nature sets us up. I’m just capitalizing what nature is doing,” said Webb.

Webb hopes this scientific event will seep into student’s minds.

“I like people to show that, if we can predict eclipses hundreds of years in advance, maybe they’ll take science and other things seriously, like global warming,” he said.

Interest in the science is peaking, as 7News cameras captured people gathering on the school’s lawn to witness the event.

“If we didn’t have this, I don’t think anyone probably would have cared as much to see it,” said Brand.

“I think it brings a lot of people together,” said Lely. “Normally this place is so empty, but it’s packed right now, and everyone’s just here to see it.”

Meantime, children at Zoo Miami went wild over the eclipse, as the local zoo hosted a viewing party at its plaza.

Guests at the zoo were able to use telescopes, grab some safety glasses and learn about the partial solar eclipse, thanks to the Southern Cross Astronomical Society of Miami.

Several children described what they saw and felt during the event.

When asked whether she was feeling excited, a girl replied, “Yeah. It’s a memory that we will never forget, and it’s a beautiful moment.”

“It looks orange, and there’s, like, a little piece taken off,” said Lily.

“It’s kind of like a cookie that’s been bitten, like a chip off,” said a boy.

“It’s like a circle, and it’s half cut,” said Rachel.

“I don’t see anything,” said a second boy. “Oh, I see it.”

When asked whether this was the best day of your life, a fourth girl said, “Yeah.”

7News cameras captured another eclipse watcher trying to put her phone up to her glasses to capture the moment.

Another big concern at Zoo Miami was how the animals were going to react to the partial eclipse. Following the partial eclipse, the animals barely reacted.

At schools throughout Miami-Dade and Broward, students came ready with an extra school supply: eclipse sunglasses.

The solar eclipse brought a perfect opportunity for students at three South Florida schools to bring a lesson to life.

Magnet students at Terra Environmental Institute prepared for citizenry science as they crowdsourced information for scientists.

“Any scientists that are working on trying to identify animal behavior during the eclipse, due to a biotic factor, can actually, hopefully, have more data and more information on it,” said Lissette Perez-Munoz, a teacher at Terra.

7News cameras captured Terra students looking up at the sky with their sunglasses on as the eclipse took over the South Florida sky. Others used their own imagination to protect their eyes.

“I know I’m supposed to use a solar filter, but I didn’t have the resources available, so I improvised with a photo filter I bought online and some tape,” said Isaac Litan, a student at Terra.

Over in Pompano Beach, science teacher Dianne Paillet’s class at Crystal Lake Middle School went through a play-by-play of the solar eclipse.

“It’s very cool, and basically we’re seeing, every single time a cloud goes over it, it gets smaller and brighter,” said one student.

“To be able to see it, live, it brings it out of the classroom and into real life,” said Paillet.

At Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in West Miami-Dade, the astronomy club enjoyed the eclipse to its full potential, as they used the paper sunglasses and state-of-the-art equipment to mark the moment.

A senior at the school described what he saw.

“Last time it came around, I was in sixth grade, but I did not have the opportunity to see it, so this is actually my first eclipse,” said Anthony Turbe, a senior at the school.

Other students said the eclipse provides scientists an opportunity to learn more about the universe.

“As much as a spectacle as it is, and as cool and interesting as it may look, it’s also a fantastic opportunity for scientists to make really important observations about the universe and the laws of physics as we understand them,” said Gaston Lacayo, a student at Terra.

Officials at Belen said their students have the technology to take their experience to the next level. They said they are the only school in the country that has a 16-inch telescope that is equipped to take quality snaps of the celestial sight.

They are also one of a handful of high schools in Florida that has an observatory.

“The observatory gets used a lot and often so that we can really expose the kids, especially, to these incredible things,” said Father Guillermo García-Tuñón, Belen’s president.

The solar eclipse was a great way to start the school week off on a high note.

Up north in Broward, at Markham Park, people were able to take a peep through a telescope to get a safe view of the moon passing between the Earth and the sun.

“It’s a once-in-a-generation experience that this is just very fascinating,” said Steven Luxenberg, president of the South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association.

7News cameras captured Broward residents of all ages coming together to see the amazing phenomenon.

In Fort Lauderdale, the Riverwalk was packed with people wearing eclipse glasses.

After witnessing the event on the campus lawn and the zoo plaza, the students and children are now a little more prepared for the next one when it comes again in 20 years.

Students from Charles R. Drew K-8 Center in Northwest Miami-Dade went to the fair on Wednesday. After their trip had concluded, the school bus left the fairgrounds, but the staff who were supervising the students apparently forgot a few of them.

Speaking with 7News on Wednesday, Latasha Jones said her son Jaquime was among those students.

“I’m angry. I’m very angry. I’m still angry,” she said.

Jones said her son went to the fair on the school bus with his kindergarten class, but when it was time to return to school, he was left behind.

Thankfully, another parent brought him back in her own personal car.

That oversight left Jones fuming.

“They didn’t even know that they left him until the parent who retrieved him and brought him back to the school, she beat the buses back to the school,” said Jones.

That good Samaritan parent told 7News that she was not an approved chaperone for the trip.

“He went to the fair on a school bus with his teacher, got to the fair, and ended up with a whole another parent that’s not even a chaperone,” said Jones.

Still, the good Samaritan parent said she went to the fair on her own account to watch her son, who was also on the field trip. At one point, the parent said, the teacher left Jaquime with her.

Now Jones wants to know how and why this happened, saying that this could have ended very differently.

“You didn’t even know who you left my child with. You just hand him off to be someone else’s responsibility. When I signed that field trip form, he was supposed to stay with his teacher,” said Jones.

Another parent who spoke to 7News said her child was also left behind on the field trip.

The school district released a statement following the incident.

“Miami-Dade County Public Schools is deeply concerned to learn that several students from Charles R. Drew K-8 Center returned to their school from a field trip with a parent instead of their assigned bus. We are looking into the matter and will take appropriate action.”

MDCPS

Cocoa the Dalmatian has been at Abandoned Pet Rescue in Fort Lauderdale for almost two years after a good Samaritan brought her to the rescue.

Since then, Cocoa has been waiting for the perfect parents to help her learn with her disability.

“Cocoa really needed a shelter like ours, that is a no-kill, because she’s a dog that is going to take longer to find a home,” said Kara Starzyk, manager at Abandoned Pet Rescue.

Randy and Jamie Starr know Cocoa will live up to the star name because Cocoa has already beaten many odds.

No words are needed from Randy because Cocoa is deaf and already has learned sign language vocabulary, thanks to her foster parents, Richard and Sandy Ellis, whom she lived with for two months.

“She’s been a little bit more of a challenge but a welcome learning curve for us,” said Sandy.

Richard and Sandy Ellis fostered Cocoa and taught her to sit, paw, down, and a classic, bang bang.

“And she rolls on her tummy,” said Sandy.

Cocoa’s send-off was extra special on Tuesday because Abandoned Pet Rescue sent her off in a Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue truck, perfect for a breed that goes hand-in-hand with saving lives.

“She was happy to see her parents but she was also happy to get on the fire truck,” said Gregory May, Assistant Chief at Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue.

It was the perfect goodbye for the hearts she touched at the rescue.

Staff at the rescue showed the home that Cocoa lived in for many months.

“This was Cocoa’s kennel, who now has Ms. Lucy,” said Starzyk.

Now Cocoa can settle with her new mom and dad who are ready to learn from her.

“If we lived our life like the way dogs lived their lives with unconditional love, the world would be a much better place,” said Randy.

The place that saved Cocoa’s life will always be close by as Abandon Pet Rescue will continue to help Randy and Jamie with the special training that Cocoa needs.

The video, from the point of view of the troopers involved, shows how troopers used one of their tactics to bring the pursuit to an end.

The driver, identified as 34-year-old Jacqueline Marie Maxson, is seen dangerously weaving through traffic as troopers follow right behind her.

Moments later, a trooper used a PIT maneuver to bring the speeding car to a stop, but not before it crashed into another SUV.

The hours-long pursuit was a nightmare for commuters trying to get home on Friday night. Some of them were stuck on the highway for most of the evening.

“Three hours,” said a driver.

“An hour and a half, two hours,” said another driver.

“About an hour and a half,” said a third driver.

The chase began as troopers tried to conduct a traffic stop on the BMW coupe in Northwest Miami-Dade near 103rd Street. It ended near Hollywood Boulevard.

7News cameras captured the occupants of the red Jeep that was hit by Maxson getting out of the car. The occupants were seen comforting each other after the commotion. One of them was transported to the hospital.

Maxson was arrested. She appeared in bond court on Saturday.

“First appearance of the felonies at this time being in a moving, or attempting to flee or elude a police officer,” said Judge Carmen R. Cabarga.

As she was in the back of the cruiser, footage shows she complained about being hot.

“Can I please get a little bit of air?” Maxson said.

Maxson attempted to get comfortable in the back seat after her dangerous driving brought I-95 to a screeching halt on a busy Friday afternoon, endangering thousands of drivers.

7News cameras captured Maxson walking into jail after her wild ride on I-95.

“Maxson, I found probable cause on both counts and am granting a bond of $7,500 on count one and I’ll give $500 on count two,” said Cabarga.

Maxson was taken to jail but has since posted bond and was released.

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.

According to Fort Lauderdale Police, 89-year-old Major Melvin and 85-year-old Claudette Melvin were shot to death at their home in Melrose Park on Friday.

A family member was sleeping in the back bedroom of the Melvins’ home of 50 years when they woke up to shots being fired. In a panic, the family member called his sister, who then called police.

“Nine-one-one. What is the address of your emergency?” a dispatcher said.

“Yes, I need ya’ll to get to Fort Lauderdale, 3, 3, oh lord, Jesus,” the sister said. “My brother just called me. I don’t have my car, I can’t get over there. I don’t know, and my brother, my brother is like, he has enough sense to where, you know, he knows to call people.”

Once police arrived, they found the crime scene.

“P.D. Code 3 as this may be a crime scene,” a dispatcher said.

Tonya Mitchell, the daughter of the couple, said that detectives told the family members someone walked in through the front door and confronted Major.

“The person walked in through the front door and Major must have tried to get up, and when he got up, he got tangled up in the blanket, and they shot him point blank with a nine-millimeter,” said Mitchell.

Mitchell raced to Fort Lauderdale on Friday from her home in North Carolina after she received news she never imagined she would hear.

“I can’t imagine it, either. It’s just terrible,” said Mitchell.

The victim’s daughter said she was told her mother woke up from the noise and the shooter turned the gun on her.

“They told me that she was shot as well, in the chest, and she fell back,” said Mitchell.

Major and Claudette moved from Virginia in the 1970s and raised their children in their Fort Lauderdale home.

As this family continues to grieve, they can’t wrap their heads around who would murder their loved ones.

At the home, none of their valuables or cash were stolen. The couple’s red Ford Fusion, however, was taken.

“What did you want? What were you looking for? You took nothing, but you killed them. Who does that?” Mitchell said.

Now the devastated daughter is left alone to clean out the home and bury her parents before her time.

She said she had to see her parents in a funeral home.

“I got a chance to see to see them today. They look like they’re just sleeping, but it’s the worst thing that a person could ever imagine,” she said.

Detectives, family members, and neighbors are left wondering who could be so callous as police looks closely at the couple’s circle.

Neighbor Tommy Lavelle said he is still grappling with the magnitude of this tragedy.

“This had to be somebody that knew something or whatever there, because they just walked in the door, and they knew that, obviously, he didn’t lock his doors,” he said. “I’ve known them for 24 years that we’ve been here, so it was always, if you needed something, he was right there.”

Now Mitchell has a message for the killer.

“Whoever it was, it’s like they knew them and it started them, and they were giving the shirts off their back,” said Mitchell, “and to come in and to kill two elderly people like that, you’re going to burn in hell.”

Fort Lauderdale Police are asking the public if they have seen the car. They said Melvins’ 2014 Ford Fusion has the Florida tag LTDQ16. A “be on the lookout” has been placed on the car.

Police are hoping to find the car but also the subject behind these murders.

The family told 7News that Major had $500 in his pocket and his wife had $400 in her bag but the killer did not walk away with the money.

The family said they will have no closure until the person is caught.

The victim’s granddaughter has created a GoFundMe page to help pay for the funeral services.

If you have any information on these deaths that could help investigators, 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.

Miami-Dade Police responded on Tuesday to the Good Family Home, located along the 6800 block of Southwest 79th Terrace in South Miami.

According to police, the victim’s granddaughter told them her 84-year-old grandmother, who has Alzheimer’s, was “abused and physically beaten by her caretaker,” who has been identified as 77-year-old Josephine Gurri.

The granddaughter told police that a video, recorded by a previous caretaker earlier this month and sent to her, shows Gurri “striking (the victim) in the buttocks and lower back area.”

“What I saw, what I witnessed was rough,” said the granddaughter.

In the cellphone video, obtained by 7News, the screams of the 84-year-old are heard while she is in the restroom with Gurri. Then the sound of a slap is heard.

“I saw her mishandling my grandmother. I saw her hitting my grandmother, I saw her verbally abusing my grandmother,” said the granddaughter. “And my grandmother was just standing there in despair, saying ‘What’s going on here, what’s going on here.’ My grandmother has severe Alzheimer’s, she’s helpless.”

The granddaughter shared photos of the bruises on her grandmother’s face and legs.

Police entered the facility and arrested Gurri. She faces an elderly abuse charge.

Gurri appeared in bond court on Wednesday.

“Ms. Gurri’s present,” said a court official.

“I don’t see any criminal history,” said a court official.

“All right, ma’am, you need to get yourself a lawyer if you can afford one,” said MIami-Dade Dade Circuit Judge Leon M. Firtel.

She was ordered to stay away from the victim.

Gurri remains behind bars at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. Her bond was set at $1,000.

Norka Rodriguez, a caretaker who works at the facility and is a friend of Gurri spoke highly of her to 7News and said she didn’t believe Gurri was capable of hurting anyone.

“She’s a very caring woman, very calm person, I don’t understand what happened here to tell you the truth,” said Rodriguez.

The granddaughter of the 84-year-old victim said she doesn’t understand either.

“It’s, it’s there,” said the granddaughter. “The proof is in the pudding. It’s there and I really thought that she was in good hands, I really truly did. It’s crazy to even think that somebody can treat another human being like that.”

The grandmother victim has been moved in with family members.

On Thursday afternoon, the media was outside Gurri’s home which prompted someone inside to call the police.

Three agents of the regulations department went into Gurri’s home to do their investigation of the incident.

7 Skyforce hovered over the scene Monday morning in Miami, where the driver first eluded Miami-Dade Police after being told to stop.

The pursuit continued throughout Miami as the driver weaved in and out of traffic.

“As you see him go on the wrong side of the roadway there. Police officers corralling him,” said 7Skyforce Reporter Ralph Rayburn.

Officers decided to follow the ATV driver from a safe distance to protect other drivers on the busy road.

“They are following now and what we heard them say is ‘We’ll just follow him until he runs out of gas'” said Rayburn.

The driver was then seen heading northbound on Interstate 95.

At one point, 7News cameras captured the driver appearing to check how much gas he had left.

Several police helicopters were also above the scene as they continued their pursuit and three police cruisers were also seen following the driver on the highway.

The Florida Highway Patrol was notified about the incident, as well as the Broward Sheriff’s Office, as the driver made his way towards Broward County.

As the rider continued his trek, at one point he exited I-95 and headed eastbound on Stirling Road.

“He goes through the intersection, now he’s going to be coming westbound underneath us,” said Rayburn.

7Skyforce continued to follow the driver as he returned to I-95.

“He’s gonna have the upper-hand as far as wheeling through and around traffic with that ATV. He’s going off road there. Right, there he goes, on cue. And around those vehicles that are stopped at the intersection,” said Rayburn.

An FHP trooper could also be seen pursuing the rider.

The rider was seen riding through big trucks and driving the wrong way on I-95.

“He’s traveling northbound. All those cars are traveling southbound,” said Rayburn.

The driver is seen driving over express lane poles and crossed through incoming traffic.

He then exited West Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. He drove on the sidewalk until he finally stopped and put his hands in the air.

“Looks like he’s going to give up the ghost here,” said Rayburn.

The driver eventually stopped in Fort Lauderdale and was swiftly taken into custody.

“Officers getting him to stop, now they are gonna knock him to the ground and secure him and make sure he’s not carrying any weapons,” said Rayburn.

7News cameras captured the suspect being handcuffed.

Drivers on their morning commute described the Monday madness they witnessed.

“I was so shocked. I just stood there in silence,” said Shamari Nelson. “Everything happened so fast.”

Nelson said the officers did their job.

“Impressive how policemen did their jobs,” said Nelson.

No injuries were reported.

FHP has identified the suspect as 18-year-old Anthony Angel Perez. He faces multiple charges including resisting an officer, moving traffic violation, and fleeing police.

Broward Sheriff’s Office and Pompano Beach Fire Rescue units responded to the scene along the 1700 block of Northwest Fourth Street, just after 6:30 p.m., Thursday.

Paramedics transported the patient to Broward Health Medical Center with injuries listed as not life-threatening.

Speaking with 7News hours later, the victim’s mother, April Lofton, identified him as Noah West.

“He’s doing good. Basically, the doctors assessed him. He’s doing really good; he’s in stable condition,” she said.

Lofton said Noah was walking his friend home after playing basketball at nearby Hunters Manor Park when a teenager drove by on a scooter.

“This guy is on a moped, a scooter, with a face mask on and just started shooting,” she said.

Lofton said the gunman fired a buckshot that hit her son multiple times in the leg and butt.

The concerned parent said deputies knocked on her door.

“BSO came to my home and said that, ‘Your son was involved in a shooting,'” she said.

A security camera in the neighborhood shows Noah running from the park to his house nearby.

Lofton said this was the worst news she could have ever expected to hear.

“I was traumatized, I was definitely traumatized. As a parent, my worst nightmare was that, you know, what’s going on with my child,” she said.

7News cameras captured a group of deputies gathered at the scene.

Deputies cordoned off a portion of Northwest Fourth Street while they investigated. Most of the crime scene tape focused around two homes.

Noah continues to recover in the hospital. More than anything, his mother is just happy that he’s going to be OK.

“We’re just waiting for everything. They’re going to keep him overnight just to make sure none of the buckshots went to any vessels or any arteries,” said Lofton.

Noah, a fifth grader, will be home from school next week for spring break, but instead of having fun, he’ll be recovering from a gunshot wound.

BSO’s Violent Crimes Unit detectives continue to investigate this incident.

“I feel like this is a great community. The kids should be able to come outside and play and be children, and then you have these other younger adults that are doing these types of things,” said Lofton.

If you have any information on this shooting, 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.

Speaking with 7News on Wednesday, residents at the Villaggio in the Grove said they are scared, because earlier in the day, a masked man came into the building.

Even though the Villaggio has a secure door with a call system on it, the crook was somehow able to get in. Moments later, residents said, the man broke into mailboxes.

Surveillance video captured the subject walking from the elevator straight to the mailboxes and filling up a backpack with mail.

The subject used a screwdriver to pry open the doors and even snatched a package before he left the same way he came in.

“The guy came from – it looks like he came from the garage,” said a woman who lives in the building.

The woman, who asked not to be identified or show her face on camera in fear of retaliation, has called the Villaggio home for four years.

A man who lives in the building also shared his concerns with 7News.

“Awful. I mean, that could have been my mailbox. I need to go check to see if it’s my mailbox,” he said. “Obviously, identity theft is an issue, so it’s really concerning.”

The man asked not to be identified because he feels so violated after the thief helped himself to mail.

“Pretty terrible, not very secure in my own place of living,” he said.

Residents said this mail mischief adds to a growing list of security concerns.

“We have problems at the door sometimes, and it’s always problems,” she said. “We have, like, the gate on the side of the building that they can open from the back.”

The man captured on surveillance video looks awfully familiar to some of the residents.

“This guy has been seen in the building already a few times,” said the woman with spoke with 7News.

“It’s not the first time that this happened. Like, a month ago, it happened again,” said another neighbor.

The other neighbor, who also doesn’t want to say her name or show her face, said someone stole items from the pouch of a motorcycle in the garage about a month ago.

“I don’t know if it is the same people,” she said.

Regardless of whether or not the same subject was behind both incidents, residents said, they want to see something done to improve safety and security in the building.

“They did that, like, in the daylight with a glass window, and nobody’s doing anything, so they can start to open our apartments,” said one of the residents. “We don’t feel safe in there.”

The most recent break-in happened at around noon in Wednesday.

Miami Police were seen at the complex monitoring the building and speaking with a man who, neighbors said, is with the Villaggio’s management team.

“I guess I’m curious what the City of Miami might be trying to do,” said the man who spoke with 7News.

The Villaggio’s management didn’t immediately respond to 7News’ request for comment about what is being done to give their residents a sense of security.

If you have any information on these thefts 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.

Miami Gardens Police identified the teen as Darion Bramwell, a student in North Gardens High School.

The victim was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center where he succumbed to his injuries, Miami Gardens Police said.

New surveillance video, obtained exclusively by 7News, shows the group of kids exiting a county bus and crossing the street. Bramwell, wearing a white shirt, sees the speeding SUV and begins running forward but doesn’t get out of the car’s way quick enough.

Students at school speaking to 7News about how much they miss their classmate.

“It’s a lot. It’s wild,” said one student.

“He was a loving kid,” said Gabriel. “He was a really loving kid.”

“Darion was a very cool individual. He’s my best friend,” said said Yamid Bradley.

The principal of the school, Dr. Laura Vesga, is encouraging students to be careful when crossing the street.

In a letter released on Monday, the principal said “it is crucial to emphasize the vulnerability of pedestrians when crossing the street without utilizing crosswalks and to ensure that this incident serves as a reminder to always prioritize safety.”

The principal also added that the school would provide support and solace to students and staff.

“It was sad to see him go out that way,” said Bradley. “It kinda affected me bad.”

Police are urging anyone crossing the street to use a crosswalk and cross with caution.

“We urge the parents to please talk to your kids. Let them know to not cross the middle of the street, cross where there is light. Make sure they are using the proper crosswalk,” stated Miami Gardens Police Department Detective Diana Gourgue.

On Tuesday, Miami-Dade School Police Department released a social media video on safety tips for crossing the road.

“I’m here today to give you a few safety tips on how to properly use a crosswalk,” said Officer Suarez in the video. “Make sure to reduce your speed.”

The driver stayed on the scene.

It’s almost been two weeks since Michael Mestrayer’s dog was picked up by a stranger. All they’re asking is for their dog Milo to be brought back home.

March 7 was the last time Mestayer saw his dog.

7News received a copy of a neighbor’s surveillance camera footage that captured a man getting out of an older Toyota corolla, walking across the front yard, grabbing the 11-year-old Miniature Schnauzer and putting him in the car.

“It hurts. Every time I think about it, it’s bad,” said Mestayer.

Michael said on that day, Milo slipped out the gate that was propped open by his landscapers. Once the man grabbed Milo, Mestayer said he saw the car drive away but didn’t realize what happened.

“When I was there, there was a car there but he was inside the car already,” said Mestayer. “I didn’t see him. After that, I saw the car in the video.”

Mestayer doesn’t believe the man who took his dog has good intentions. He also said that Milo’s collars have his home address, and phone numbers on it, and Milo is microchipped.

“Looking for a house? No,” he said.

Now, Mestayer is doing everything he can to track down his dog. He is posting flyers and is offering a $3,000 award to make sure Milo is returned home safe and sound.

“He broke the family. Bring him back, man,” he said. “I won’t have no problem with you, just bring him back.”

All Mestayer wants now is for his 11-year-old pup to be returned home.

Speaking with 7News on Thursday, Jessica Reeder said her everything has been ripped away from her.

“[My dog] was attacked by a pit bull, and he broke his spine, his back,” she said. “His teeth were broken. [The pit bull] pulled me to the ground also.”

Reeder said she was walking her 7-year-old dog Piper on Wednesday night when the pit bull ran out of a home from three houses away and locked his jaws on her pet.

“The dog won’t release my dog, he’s biting my dog, he’s grabbing my dog, he’s biting, I’m screaming for help,” she said. “I’m trying to get up, but I can’t get my balance because I’m holding on to the leash. I don’t want to let the leash go ’cause who knows what he would have done with my dog.”

Reeder said she lived this nightmare for about 10 minutes, until the pit bull’s owner finally came out.

“And he comes over and [screams at his dog], ‘Get out,’ and [says] it’s his dog, and he goes, ‘Oh, I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry,'” she said. “By that time, my dog is crying, weeping.”

Ring surveillance video captured Reeder tending to Piper after the attack.

Reeder and her neighbors rushed the Shih Tzu to VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital shortly after.

“They couldn’t save his life,” she said.

In the hospital, Reeder and Piper said their goodbyes.

“You loved me unconditionally. I loved you back. Sorry, baby,” she is heard saying in cellphone video.

Fighting back tears, Reeder described the ways that her pet was a very special dog.

“He was very special, smart, and he was a good dog,” she said. “You know, never aggressive to anything or anybody.”

Now Reeder wants to make sure nobody goes through the same pain because of this pit bull.

“I’m going to try to fight this in court, get my money and get that dog put down, because that’s more important to me,” she said. “If he attacked my dog, believe me, he’s going to attack somebody else. It could have been a child, it could have been a baby.”

A 7News crew knocked on the door of the pit bull owner’s home, but no one answered.

Reeder said the pit bull’s owner offered to pay for her veterinarian bills, which total about $1,600, but as of late Thursday afternoon, she has not received that money.

Coral Springs Police and Fire Rescue units arrived at the scene near the corner of West Sample Road and Riverside Drive, Thursday afternoon.

The victims’ car was in a parking lot located next to the canal when it somehow ended up crashing into the water.

Body camera video captured a police officer, an orange rope in his hands, as he raced toward the canal.

The video then shows Coral Springs Police Officer Christopher Moss jumping into the water.

Moss quickly swam up to the submerged car and made contact with the victim.

“Is there anyone else in the car?” an officer is heard saying in the bodycam video.

Police said Moss smashed the car’s windows to free the driver and passenger, a man and a woman, from the sinking vehicle.

Moss then quickly pushed the victims back to shore. As he’s doing so, the bodycam video showed two good Samaritans swimming toward the vehicle, but the police officer had already freed the occupants and gotten then to the grass.

The man who was inside the car collapsed to the ground, while the woman sat behind him, catching their breath after this dangerous drive.

7Skyforce hovered over the scene, where the car was almost fully submerged in the canal. Only the roof was visible.

One of the victims suffered minor injuries and was transported to the hospital for treatment.

It is unclear what cause them to drive into the canal. The car has since been towed out.

According to the MDPD, investigators revealed that 52-year-old Jorge Gomero, reportedly part of a larger group, had been stealing health and beauty products along with clothing from major retailers.

“He owned the store where he was purchasing and selling stolen goods,” said Miami-Dade Police Officer Andre Martin.

Police said a tip from another person arrested for organized retail theft led them to Gomero.

Detectives said surveillance video captured the group transporting stolen goods in garbage bags to Gomero’s establishment, El Baratón, located at 4746 W Flagler St., where they were then resold.

In the arrest report, police detailed how they sent undercover officers into the store various times. The officer’s presented and sold alleged stolen items that ranged from clothing, over the counter medicine, perfumes, and health and beauty items.

Each time officers presented the items, Gomero, channeling his store’s name which in English means the cheap one, bought the items for around $200.

The retail value of these items was more than $1000 to $2000.

“This is very dangerous because, if you don’t know where these items are coming from, and these are items that you are placing on or inside your body, you don’t know if these products have been adulterated with different chemicals and things that can be very hazardous to your health,” said Martin.

Following a search warrant, authorities said they seized over $28,000 worth of merchandise from Gomero’s business premises.

MDPD said that among the confiscated items were nearly 4,500 counterfeit cigar boxes and thousands of counterfeit cigar labels, with an estimated value exceeding $1.1 million.

“The intention of Mr. Gomero with these labels and boxes were to sell them to other individuals who were then going to put them on cigars and then sell those cigars as authentic tobacco products,” said Martin. “These cigars have been analyzed and they’ve been found to contain products or chemicals like hair, bodies of insects, or formaldehyde.”

Further investigation disclosed Gomero’s role in facilitating orders for the counterfeit boxes and labels, allegedly intended for use in selling fake cigars as genuine products.

Police said this is a dangerous business and it hurts everyone in the community.

“Crimes like these are the crimes that are causing the cost of goods to rise exponentially,” said Martin. “Make sure that what you’re purchasing is an authentic product and your not putting yourself or your family members in danger.”

Gomero was arrested and transported to Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. He appeared in bond court on Tuesday.

“Good morning Mr. Gomero, sir, you were arrested for two cases,” said Judge Mindy Glazer. “The charge is for dealing in stolen property, four counts, and one count of grand theft.

Gomero’s bond is set at $30,000.

Police said the investigation into this retail ring continues and more people are expected to be held accountable for these crimes.

It is unclear if Gomero’s wife will face charges. She was in the store front every time police came into the store.

Police want the public to know that if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Police said that the discovery of the bodies unfolded on Sunday at around 9 p.m. in the area of 17400 NW 68 Avenue but that the actual deaths of the victims occurred two weeks ago.

According to MDPD, uniformed officers responded to a welfare check request for the family, discovering a “distinct foul odor” upon arrival at the apartment and multiple flies flying outside the apartment door.

“Once inside, they discovered four people dead,” said Miami Dade Police Department Officer Alvaro Zabaleta.

MDFR assisted in gaining entry, and officers reportedly found four individuals deceased inside from apparent gunshot wounds.

Investigators believe that the 60-year-old father, Victor Penalba, perpetrated the tragedy, fatally shooting his 50-year-old wife, Yumara Martinez, 18-year-old son, Jason Penalba, and 13-year-old daughter, Stephanie Penalba before taking his own life.

Police said they found Victor lying on top of the gun in the master bedroom with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

“Domestic violence usually escalates and if it’s not attended and not taken serious and it’s left alone, it can escalate to, a lot of the times, like in this case, tragedy,” said Zabaleta.

During their investigation, detectives revealed that Victor and Martinez were married in 2007.

According to police, Jason’s friends from Miami Dade College called police for the welfare check after not hearing from Jason for two weeks. The last person to speak with Jason was his girlfriend on Feb. 28.

The friends, speaking to 7News, did not want to reveal their identity but said Jason was a good person.

“He always had like a good, like, soul,” said one friend. “My friends decided to like call each other and be like ‘Man, it’s like, it’s already been two weeks already. We should definitely go and check something out.'”

Before the friends came and knocked on Jason’s door, police said the girlfriend appeared at Jason’s home on March 9 and knocked on the door but received no answer so she left.

“All you get is the smell, immediate, just hits you and that’s when we knew nobody in there is OK,” said a friend.

“We cannot believe that this happened to him. Everyone was disheartened. Everyone is shocked. Nobody can believe this because he was just not a kid that you would ever expect to be in this sort of situation,” said another friend.

The step-brother and sister of Yumara were at the scene on Monday and told 7News they wish they had stepped in sooner to prevent the deaths of their sister and her children.

“It’s destroyed us as a family. We’re a good family. We look out for each other. This just sucks, man. You don’t expect it to be you, you know,” Juan Rodriguez. “Shame on us, you know.”

Rodriguez said his sister and the children had many goals and aspirations for their life.

“She always accepted me, not as a step-brother, but as a brother. She always used to tell me, she goes ‘I don’t care that we’re not blood blood, but you are better than blood,'” said Rodriguez.

Rodriguez said Jason was a student at Miami Dade College. Rodriguez described the warning that Jason gave to his girlfriend in their last known contact.

“He told his girlfriend, ‘If you don’t hear from me in four to five days, something bad happened,'” said Rodriguez. One of the friends reiterated the warning Jason gave.

The stepsister said her sister and the children were wonderful people.

“He would always like push her away from the family,” said Yumara’s stepsister, who did not want to be identified.

The stepsister said she didn’t see the family enough.

“We are a united family but he would never want them around,” said the stepsister.

The victim’s siblings want the public to know that if they have a loved one in a difficult situation or in a difficult relationship, to reach out to the loved one.

“We thought we knew that everything was okay but deep down inside, you think that maybe something is not right. You should pull that person to the side when they are and say ‘Hey, can we have some Starbucks or something?’ Take them out,” said Rodriguez.

Rodriguez said one of Yumara’s coworkers also reached out to the family after not hearing from them for over a week but they didn’t follow up.

The family now hopes no one makes the same mistake.

If you have any information on this crime, 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.

7News cameras on Friday captured a calm scene on Ocean Drive, near the 10th Street beach entrance, where “goodwill ambassadors” and Miami Beach Police officers were in full force.

Officers surveyed the area for any prohibited items that visitors cannot bring to the beach.

For those visiting Miami Beach, there has been some confusion with the increased police presence.

“Dang, I knew we shouldn’t came on spring break,” said Tashelia Davis.

Tashelia and her husband, Jerry Davis, came down to South Beach for their anniversary.

“We’ve been together for 18 years, we’ve been married two,” Jerry said.

The two were looking for a romantic getaway.

“Yes, spring break is going to be messed up,” he said.

“We know it’s going to be wild,” Tashelia said.

Changes around the town have already affected their plans.

“Well, today, right now, we’re looking for breakfast,” she said.

Later in the day, with the sun shining bright above beachgoers, the loudest sounds heard were the crash of the waves and the chatter among friends and family.

“Have fun, enjoy the beach, enjoy the nightlife, and just here to have fun with the girls,” said spring breaker Claudia Duverglas.

The calmer-than-expected day on the beach provided an extra layer of comfort for many visitors, knowing the safety precautions and police are all around them.

“I’m happy for the precautions to make sure that people are enjoying Miami safely,” said spring breaker Liza Itkin.

That’s exactly the response police were hoping for, and as of Friday afternoon, they said things are going smoothly.

“There has not been a noteworthy event related to spring break, and we are actually seeing a decline in arrest data, which allows us to believe that our plan is working,” said Miami Beach Police Officer Christopher Bess.

This doesn’t mean police will stop working. Extra law enforcement members will be out and about, keeping people safe and making sure they follow the rules.

As part of the new security measures, sidewalk seating will remain closed at restaurants for the weekend and next weekend, but “goodwill ambassadors” will be in the area providing helpful information.

At restaurants along the beach, seats were stacked and tables were tucked. It was a different sight than what people are used to on a sunny Friday morning.

“I was afraid it was going to be overrun, but it’s been fine. We’ve had a great time,” said a man.

But not everyone is happy with some of the new measures. Visitor Aaron McKinley said he drove up from Miami Beach to Fort Lauderdale when he heard parking $100 in some spots.

“They’re definitely doing the right thing — they pushed everybody out — but at the same time, it’s kind of a bummer because we drove 18 hours all the way here, just to find out that we’re not welcome in Miami.”

The hefty price tag is hardly the only parking restriction for visitors coming to South Beach. From Friday at 6 a.m until Monday at 6 a.m., over the next two weeks, the city’s garages and surface lots will only be open to residents and city employees.

In addition, the towing rate is doubling for non-residents to $516. Barricades will also block off the streets, and police will set up DUI checkpoints and bag checks to get on the beach.

“They’re doing an amazing job, there’s security everywhere, so I’m very happy with that,” said Angela, who is visiting South Beach.

Last year, large crowds, shootings and stampedes left two people dead. During that time, over 600 people were arrested.

The safety precautions are part of the city’s “Spring Break Breakup” measures. The city posted a video online about the steps they’re taking to keep the peace this year.

Officials are hoping that the calm continues throughout the weekend.

The Davises are also looking forward to enjoying their time together.

7News cameras captured drivers being turned away at the entrance of the parking garage on Collins Avenue and Seventh Street, Thursday afternoon.

Parking is a problem for visitors coming to South Beach. From Thursday at 6 a.m until Monday at 6 a.m., over the next two weeks, the city’s garages and surface lots will only be open to residents and city employees.

Visitors David, Samuel and Ike weighed in on the parking restrictions while strolling near Ocean Drive, where barricades were already put up on Thursday to prevent people from crossing in the middle of the street.

“Uber is definitely going to make a lot of money,” said one of the visitors.

The young men said they were already aware of the stepped up security and opted against driving themselves to South Beach.

After the sun went down on Thursday, the crowds seem calmer and smaller than on previous years. Some spring breakers said they’re slightly disappointed, but city officials said that’s their goal.

The safety precautions are part of the city’s “Spring Break Breakup” measures. The city posted a video online about the steps they’re taking to keep the peace this year.

Last March, two people were killed and police arrested 573 people, so the city is working to curb the chaos of prior years.

Raheem, who is visiting from Toronto, said the police presence is impossible to miss.

“Lots of police on the strip. You can see them patrolling and all that,” he said.

Officers were seen driving by in cruisers and on four-wheelers, as they worked to keep everyone safe, and especially out of the road.

“It’s pretty wild, but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do,” said Raheem.

All roads to Ocean Drive are blocked off besides 13th Street. People can use it to reach the iconic street and head south.

Along Ocean Drive, sidewalk seating will close at restaurants this weekend and next weekend, but “goodwill ambassadors” will be in the area providing helpful information.

From Ocean Drive, visitors are only allowed walk to the sand from the Fifth, 10th and 12th street entrances, and all beaches will close to the public at 6 p.m.

As for the enhanced police presence this weekend, it will include 60 additional state troopers in South Florida. Forty-five of these troopers will come straight to South Beach.

“It’s kind of wild to see, because Miami is usually the place to be for spring break,” said Raheem.

“I thought it was gonna be, like, way more, like, better,” said Daniel, a student at the University of South Carolina.

A calm kickoff to the expected busy weekend ahead is exactly that law enforcement officials want.

“I thought there was going to be more people out on the beach or, like, late night, there would be more people out here,” said Daniel, “but it’s not, because they got Feds all over the place.”

Even so, some visitors can see the benefits.

“What happened last year can’t happen again, so, again, there’s procedures that, like, have to happen,” said a friend of Daniel.

“The rowdiness in the crowds has kind of died down, so we like it, being three girls traveling alone, we kind of feel like it’s kind of deterred some of the negativity away,” said a visitor who identified herself as Natalie.

“We think it’s, like, safer, feel very comfortable, just three girls walking around,” said Natalie’s friend.

Some visitors said the message from “Spring Break Breakup” is reaching the masses.

“There’s lot’s of posts on Instagram about not coming here for spring break,” said Raheem.

“It’s just different, but I’ll find some type of way to have fun, so,” said Joe, another student from the University of South Carolina.

Starting Friday, city officials warn drivers to expect significant traffic delays coming over the causeways to Miami Beach. There will also be license plate readers on the causeways to Miami Beach, as a well as a DUI checkpoint along Fifth Street.

In addition, the towing rate is doubling for non-residents to $516.

“I like the laws that they put in place. Obviously, it would be nice to still have some fun, but have fun safely,” said David.

If things get out of hand, city officials said, they plan to enforce curfews, as well as bag checks at beach access points and security checks around the area.

Miami Beach Police, with the assistance of multiple local and state law enforcement agencies, are getting ready for the large crowds and to begin enforcing a series of restrictions.

“We want people to enjoy spring break in a responsible manner, but we also have to prioritize public safety,” said Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Alejandro Camacho.

On Thursday at 6 a.m., all parking garages and open-air lots in South Beach will be shut down until Monday at 6 a.m. Steve Polycarp, who is from Germany, said she was surprised when she saw that she was not able to enter the beach on Thursday.

“I didn’t know it was about spring break,” she said.

The closures are just one among several safety precautions that are moving into place with extra support from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office. On Tuesday, the governor announced 140 troopers in total will be deployed around the state to keep things calm.

DeSantis said he is working to make sure that the only thing that people are paying for during the month of March is an enjoyable, safe time.

“If you’re coming here in order to enjoy Florida, enjoy and have a good time, fine. If you’re coming for these other reasons — if you’re committing crimes, causing havoc, you are going to pay the price,” he said.

To achieve this purpose, DeSantis is deploying state troopers to spring break hotspots to keep these areas calm during the busiest weekends.

“For Miami Beach, we are sending a total of 45 troopers for the next two weeks, just to assist them in any way possible,” said Camacho.

Officials said 15 other troopers will be along Fort Lauderdale Beach.

“Just to assist [police] in any way possible, whether it’s traffic enforcement on the causeways, whether it’s checkpoints, just really to assist in their mission of what they’re trying to accomplish,” said Camacho.

And starting Thursday, a crackdown on crowds will begin to help prevent a repeat of last year’s spring break chaos. That’s when back-to-back shootings left two people dead.

During March 2023 alone, police arrested 537 people and two people were shot, so for 2024, the City of Miami Beach has announced its breakup with spring break.

City officials said they’re ditching their toxic relationship and setting up new rules.

Many of these restrictions revolve around parking. There will be a $30 flat rate at South Beach garages and surface lots on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with Miami Beach residents excluded.

The parking garage and lot closures take over starting at 6 a.m. on Thursday for the next two weeks. There will also be a $100 flat rate for the 42nd Street surface lot with residents excluded.

In addition, the non-resident tow rates south of 23rd Street will be $516. Beach parking officials told 7News that a car towed on Wednesday morning will be given back to its owner for $800.

The restrictions came as news to Joseph Nesrelleh, who is visiting from Montreal. He spoke with 7News on Wednesday night after parking his car in the garage on Seventh Street and Collins Avenue.

“I don’t know what to do. I’m thinking now they destroyed my night, my vacation,” he said.

Nesrelleh also said he noticed a large police presence.

“We realize there’s a lot of cops. A lot, lot, lot, lot of cop cars. We say there is cops more than people,” he said.

Beach access along Ocean Drive will be limited to the entrances on Fifth, 10th and 12th streets, with all accesses closing at 6 p.m. And if that’s not enough, DeSantis said he is ready and willing to take additional safety measures.

“The state stands by and is willing to help out with any additional resources that are at our disposal,” he said.

During the following two weekends, there will also be license plate readers set up along the causeways to Miami Beach. There ill also be a DUI checkpoint on Fifth Street.

Although an inconvenience for those visiting the Magic City, the measures are making life for residents, workers and travelers safer.

“They advertised very well. The streets are bare. I work overnight and I haven’t seen any type of chaos,” said one man who works near the beach.

Sidewalk seating will also be limited as Thursday marked the last day restaurants will be able to seat guests outside. Sidewalk seating will be prohibited starting Friday and will extend until Sunday, as well as next weekend.

During a press conference on Tuesday, DeSantis announced that 140 state troopers will be on patrol throughout Florida to help maintain and ensure a safe and peaceful environment.

The Florida Highway Patrol and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will deploy their manpower and tactical assets to several spring break destinations like Daytona Beach and Panama City Beach.

“We have been given the tools from are governor to make sure that we can enforce these rules and laws throughout our state,” said FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass.

“We’re going to get the job done, not for you, but with you,” said Dave Kerner,  executive director of Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

“Florida is a very welcoming state, we welcome people to come and have a good time,” DeSantis said. “What we don’t welcome is criminal activity. What we don’t welcome is mayhem, people that want to reek havoc on our communities. Make no mistake about it, if you’re coming here in order to enjoy Florida, enjoy to have a good time, fine. If you’re coming for these other reasons, if you’re committing crimes, causing havoc, you are going to pay the price and we will hold you accountable. We stand by ready to support even more.”

Sixty troopers will be around Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale Beach, with the majority going to Miami Beach.

“And they came through, they came through,” said Miami Beach Mayor Steve Meiner. “They gave us even more than we asked. We’re going to see if about 45 Florida troopers out on our streets in the next couple of weeks.”

To deter violence in Miami Beach, officials passed several measures that took effect on Friday. They are also making it clear they’ve had enough of the shootings, stampedes and overall recklessness seen in previous years.

People on Miami Beach welcomed the governor’s announcement.

“Safety’s first. That’s all I care about,” said one person on the street.

Spring breakers are being urged to be on their best behavior as they now have to deal with these measures and an increased police presence.

Some of the measures include:

• $30 flat rate at South Beach garages/surface lots Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. (Residents excluded)
• Thursday 6 a.m. through Monday 6 a.m. : Garages/surface lots closed.
• $100 flat rate for 42nd Street surface lot (residents excluded)
• Non-resident tow rate south of 23rd Street

Beach access along Ocean Drive will also be limited to the entrances of Fifth, 10th, and 12th Streets, with all access closing at 6 p.m.

“We’re a law and order state and we’re going to ensure law and order in this state,” said Desantis.

Some people said the plans by the city are not good.

“It’s trash because you gonna sit here and tell me how to have a good time? It’s trash,” said one person.

“I don’t know anything about spring break or the rules because I’m unruly,” said another person.

Miami Beach officials said they could impose a curfew as soon as this weekend, but no announcement has been made yet.

Fort Lauderdale Police units responded to a “be on the lookout” that was posted on Friday of a silver Hyundai Elantra.

The sedan was reportedly stolen from Cape Coral.

Officers spotted the vehicle in Fort Lauderdale through a license plate reader and sent a Broward Sheriff’s Office helicopter to follow the vehicle until they were able to arrive to the area.

The pursuit took deputies through the grass and rush hour traffic.

7Skyforce hovered above the Elantra as the driver sped down neighborhoods, and a passenger appeared to throw things out of the window.

After a brief pursuit eastbound near Southwest 25th Street and 38th Avenue, police conducted two PIT maneuvers, resulting in the car slowing down before hitting a tree.

“The vehicle being sideswiped there,” said 7SkyForce’s Ralph Rayburn. “They’ve done that PIT maneuver, second time, it’s gonna hit a tree, run into a tree.”

One male and two females got out of the vehicle with their hands in the air as police swarmed the area.

Officers took the trio into custody after they cleared the vehicle.

Area resident Carolyn Allen said she saw the pursuit play out in front of her home.

“Whoever was driving was really driving fast,” she said.

The speeding car gave Allen the scare of a lifetime.

“I got on the other side of my bed, down, because I didn’t know if shooting was gonna start, but it was bad,” she said. “That thing scared me. It’s scary, I stayed here and in my house, and I refused to come out until I saw a lot of police getting out, and then friends start coming in, they were all in my driveway.”

Jorome, who lives down the street, said the danger came too close to his daughters.

“The kids was outside playing. I hear ‘errrrr,’ I run out, and look, that’s what I saw,” he said.

Jorome said the high-speed pursuit went right by his girls as they were riding their bicycles.

“Crazy,” he said.

But ultimately, it was a sight for the family to see, as they watched the three people come out of the car and deputies took them into custody.

“We got somebody getting out of the vehicle on the driver’s side, laying down on the ground there,” said Rayburn. “We got a female getting out of the passenger side, and they’ve got the driver crawling out.”

No injuries were reported.

As of late Friday night, authorities have not identified the subjects.

According to BSO, the three of them will be facing charges of fleeing, eluding law enforcement and grand theft auto.

Cellphone video from the Feb. 16 incident is hard to watch. It shows an American bulldog mix that escaped its first-floor unit, as it made a beeline across the grass in the parking lot of the complex and sinking its teeth into the neck of a white schnauzer called Tico.

Speaking with 7News on Thursday, Tico’s owner, Ernesto Casaus, said the mauling has been a traumatic experience for the whole family.

“We can’t sleep all the time with that. Imagine that this dog almost killed our dog,” he said.

Casaus said he adopted Tico four years ago from Puerto Rico.

“He’s very friendly. All the time, he is playing, he is running around the house.”

But Casaus fears that after the brutal attack, his pet will never be the same.

“I think that he will have like a trauma,” he said.

And not only for Tico. Casaus’ mother was holding the leash on that disturbing day.

The cellphone video shows Casaus’ mother trying to yank Tico away from the bigger dog, who refused to let go. The driver of a pickup truck is captured honking their horn at one point, but the bulldog mix just kept on biting the schnauzer.

“I asked for help,” she told 7News in Spanish.

She said she tried and tried but couldn’t get anyone to help.

Eventually the attack knocked Ernesto’s mother to the ground.

“I fell, I hit my elbow, I hit my knee,” she said.

After she got back up, she began to strike the American bulldog mix with a traffic cone in an attempt to get the animal off Tico, to no avail.

Fortunately, Tico survived the ordeal.

Since the attack, Casaus said, the canine has undergone two surgeries.

“The first surgery was for four hours,” he said.

Veterinarians had to remove the skin around Tico’s neck. He currently has received at least 40 stitches to help him heal.

“He’s putting medicine every two days to try to recuperate that skin,” said Casaus.

As Tico is undergoing his treatment, his owner is pushing toward one goal: getting that vicious dog out of the complex.

“I want to try to have this dog out of here, because it’s very dangerous,” said Casaus.

Casaus said he has already filed an affidavit with Miami-Dade Animal Services.

Thursday night, a spokesperson with MDAS issued the following statement:

On Feb. 16, 2024, a dangerous dog investigation was initiated by a witness to the attack, who was not the owner of the dog that was attacked. The witness alleges an American Bulldog mix attacked a Schnauzer dog. Miami-Dade County Animal Services reached out to the Schnauzer owner and provided the required documents, which are currently pending their submittal.

The owner of the victim dog has a two-week period to submit their affidavit along with any supporting documentation, such as police reports, veterinary records, and pictures. Upon receipt of this documentation, Animal Services will proceed to provide the owner of the attacking dog with an affidavit, affording them a similar two-week timeframe for completion. Following the collection of evidence from both parties, Animal Services will assess any potential violations and designate the dog accordingly. If any violations are established, the owner of the attacking dog may face citations in relation to the incident.

It’s important to understand that the dangerous dog investigation process is conducted consistently, whether the incident involves attacks on humans or other domestic animals. The determination of a dog as aggressive or dangerous, as well as any ensuing citations, hinges on various factors carefully considered during the investigation.

Casaus said he doesn’t know when Tico’s bandages will be able to come off. He’s been having to take his dog to the veterinarian at least three times a week for checkups and bandage changes.

Casaus said the neighborhood is coming together. They’ve signed a letter asking for the other vicious dog to be removed.

Cassius also said the owner of the American bulldog mix has been paying for all of Tico’s vet bills.

On Wednesday morning, a Miami-Dade Police officer followed a black Chevy Tahoe on the westbound State Road 112 expressway, heading to MIA, after the department was notified that the Broward Sheriff’s Office Aviation team was following it out of Broward County.

“Right now, you’re looking at Miami-Dade Police officers pursuing this black Tahoe,” said an aerial camera reporter.

According to officials, the driver traveled onto southbound Interstate 95 and headed into North Miami, then Northeast Miami-Dade. He eventually made his way to MIA.

7Skyforce was overhead just before the police pursuit ended, capturing the black vehicle swerving through traffic before heading to the heavily policed airport.

“They’re driving it like it’s stolen through all the streets of North Miami, Biscayne Boulevard, also out west by Opa-locka,” said the aerial camera reporter.

As the driver approached the airport, he was seen entering the departure lanes.

“OK, let’s see if he’s going to the arrivals or departures section of the airport here,” said the aerial camera reporter.

He opted for departures.

Video footage captured the SUV driving into the American Airlines main terminal. He stopped just before passing a crosswalk in front of Terminal E where authorities immediately handcuffed the man behind the wheel without incident.

Witnesses watched it all unfold and questioned why the man drove the stolen car to the airport.

Abhi, who is visiting Miami from New York, could not contain his laughter upon learning where the motorist ended up.

“This seems like the worst place to end a car chase, at the airport. There’s a lot of police here,” he said.

“I heard the new ‘Bad Boys’ is being filmed. This looks like the new set,” said Sanka, Abhi’s friend, who is also visiting Miami from New York. “This is a great, warm welcome to Miami.”

According to Margate Police, the black Chevy Tahoe was stolen out of a business, Tuesday night.

Footage from the scene showed some damage to the passenger side of the vehicle, but it is unknown if that occurred during the chase.

Law enforcement remained at the scene as they investigated this incident.

Michael Wilson, the owner of Wilson Window Tinting in Margate, told 7News the car is his.

“Somebody came in here late last night, around 9, 10 o’clock, they smashed the window, came in and stole some stuff, took our shop vehicle,” said Wilson. “They went through the drawers here, and the laptop sitting here.”

Wilson provided 7News with all of the security footage showing two subjects inside the shop. They eventually got the keys to the Tahoe and took off.

“They broke the window. We don’t know overall everything he took,” said Wilson.

However, Wilson is certain that the crooks took several thousand dollars worth of film and tools, loaded them into the Tahoe and made out like bandits.

“Everything’s tough right now. Everybody’s hurting for money and, you know, now we just lost a lot of product,” he said.

However, at the end of the pursuit, only one person was in the vehicle.

On Wednesday morning, a detective was assigned to auto crimes saw the vehicle in Miramar, Wednesday morning.

No air traffic delays were reported, but the road was temporarily blocked off past Terminal E. Drivers were able to pass through once the driver of the Tahoe was driven off in the back of a Miami-Dade Police car.

“How does the story end?” said Sanka.

“Can I show you? I’m going to pull it up” said 7News reporter Michael Hudak.

“Yeah, sure,” said Sanka.

“A gateway driver rushing through traffic,” a reporter on video is heard saying.

“Was he late for a flight or something? Couldn’t catch an Uber?” said Sanka. “Police escort!”

Abhi correctly guessed the ending to the pursuit.

“If the car chase ended here, I feel like the person was definitely apprehended,” said Abhi.

The takedown happened on camera, near Door 13 on Terminal E.

No injuries were reported in this incident.

Police later identified the man they arrested as 57-year-old Walter L. Griggs. He faces a list of charges, including grand theft and fleeing and eluding police.

Miami-Dade Police have not confirmed whether they are still looking for a second subject or whether the damaged car is indeed the vehicle involved in this chase.

The incident occurred Tuesday afternoon in the area of Northeast 19th Avenue and 183rd Street.

According to Miami-Dade Police, an off-duty officer with the county was with his family in his personal car, traveling southbound on Northeast 18th Road, when he attempted to turn left and a subject fired at his car, hitting the fender.

Neither the officer nor his family was injured. The description of the officer’s personal car is unclear.

Detectives have put out a “Be On The Lookout” (BOLO) alert in search of an adult male who was seen leaving the scene in a late-model Genesis car, either dark gray or black.

North Miami Beach Police called the shooting a “road rage incident” on X.

A witness, speaking to 7News off camera, said a single shot was fired. He said he thought it was a tire popping and then saw a black Lincoln Navigator turned into a plaza with a bullet hole in the back of it.

A neighbor who has lived in the area for decades said she was shocked to see the scene unfold on Tuesday.

“People are getting so bold. They just don’t seem to care anymore,” said Janis Sessions.

Officers placed an evidence sticker on the back driver’s side of the Navigator.

“I hope everything will be alright and everybody is OK,” said Sessions.

As of 10 p.m., the shooter was still at large.

The Miami-Dade Police Department is currently leading the investigation.

If you have any information on this crime, 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.

Workers worked over night after and into the early morning hours on Tuesday after a major water main break in the area of Northwest 67th Avenue and Miami Lakes Drive, just before 5 p.m., Monday.

Video from 7Skyforce showed the intersection flooded and water bubbling up, along with a car stuck in the break.

On Tuesday, the water receded, but not before flooding reached 1.5 to 2 feet deep in the area, reaching the shopping plazas on both sides of the street and covering up the concrete on the median.

According to Miami-Dade Police, a media company was working on the road in the area and broke a water main, leading a woman to drive her car into an uncovered manhole.

Marie Merone, who wished to remain anonymous as she spoke to 7News, said she was behind the wheel of a Suzuki on her way to work when she drove into the water main.

“I jumped out of the passenger side,” said Merone. “It went deep.”

“And it just happened really quick?” asked the reporter.

“Yeah, like in two seconds,” said Merone. “The water, it keep coming and coming. I see my feet with the water on the side of the car. I’m screaming!”

As she waited for police, Merone said the wet mess only got worse as cars continued to cruise by.

“Everybody crazy driving. My car go in the sink hole,” said Merone.

According to Miami-Dade Water and Sewer, the spewing water is due to a private contractor striking the water main, which pushed the man hole cover out and sent Merone’s car front left tire in.

After nearly three and a half hours, public works crews shut off all of the valves to stop the water from spitting up.

Miami Lakes Council Member Ray Garcia is warning neighbors of what to do following this incident.

“The water main erupted. It’s a major 12-inch water main. Please, for now, boil the water, don’t drink the water,” said Garcia.

This is the second incident in the area. Last Thursday, the city posted on X that there was a gas leak in the exact same area.

Businesses in the area shut down for hours due to the gas leak.

But on Monday, it was Merone who felt shut down.

“I want to pass out, but I can’t because I need my life, but I want to pass out,” said Merone.

According to police, Merone’s car is a total loss. After a few hours, tow trucks were able to pull her SUV out and tow it away.

Merone said her car is super important to her as she uses it for everyday life such as taking her kids to school and herself to work.

According to Miami-Dade Water and Sewer, crews have isolated the damaged portion of the pipe. Repairs are expected to be completed between four to six hours. Northwest 67th Avenue between Main Street and Miami Lakes Drive will remain closed until road restoration is completed.

Restaurants in the area, who 7News spoke to, said that their water remains OK and they continued serving people in the area.

Crews remained on the scene Tuesday attempting to get the situation under control. It is unclear how long it will take to repair the water main. Just before 8 a.m., the road reopened to traffic.

Comcast released the following statement about the water main break:

We take matters like these seriously and are working with our business partner to determine the cause of the incident. We will determine appropriate next steps based on the outcome of our investigation.”

Comcast spokesperson

“The cops shot my dad, the cops shot my dad,” said Gabriela Cueli in a recorded video in the aftermath of her father’s death.

On Nov. 29, 2023, 22-year-old Gabriela was behind the camera when her father, 59-year-old Osvaldo Cueli, was shot by police in his driveway.

“We’re living a nightmare, in all honesty,” Gabriela said. “I never thought my dad would die like this.”

Ever since that tragic day, Osvaldo’s children are still trying to figure out why this happened.

Before the shooting happened, 19-year-old Osvaldo Cueli, who shares the same name with his father, said they ran off people trespassing on their 10-acre farm, located at Southwest 182nd Avenue and 192nd Street, twice on the same day.

“My dad honked the horn like that twice and then they saw us and instantly started running,” Osvaldo said.

Osvaldo also said that his father took a gun with him the third time when he checked for intruders and drove his car to the front gate, while he followed his father in a golf cart, at around 3 p.m.

Then, two black trucks pulled up.

“One pulls up this way, and one pulls out there. As he turns around, they are already shooting at him,” he said.

Osvaldo said he had no idea that the people who arrived were police.

“I thought they were random people trying to kill us. There was no light, there was no sirens. There was not one word spoken. They just started shooting out of the car,” he said.

“Did you see your father point the weapon?” the reporter asked.

“No.” he said.

“Did your father fire a weapon?” asked the reporter?

“No.” he said.

According to Miami-Dade Police, unmarked vehicles were checking out reports of a stolen car that looked a lot like the one the father parked. When they arrived, the man coming out of the car produced a gun, and that’s when shots were fired.

“That’s when the subject, armed with a firearm, produced a firearm, and that’s when shots were fired,” said MDPD Detective Alvaro Zabaleta.

Police said the victim fired multiple shots at the unmarked truck and that was when officers returned fire.

The video, recorded by the children, shows them yelling at the officers after the father was shot dead.

“Why? He’s not breathing!’ Gabriela yells in tears.

After Osvaldo was down, his children watched as, they said, nothing was done to help their dying father.

“They walked all over him, like a rag doll, as if he was nothing, as if he was trash on the floor,” said Gabriela. “They did not care. Smiling all in our faces, telling us, ‘Everything is going to be OK, everything’s fine.’ There was no ambulance, there was no airlift; nothing was done to try to help him.”

The man’s children added the plainclothes officers never identified themselves.

Nearly three months later, they are sharing video of their nightmare as they wait for the outcome of a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation.

“Get justice for my dad. He was murdered; he didn’t deserve that,” said Osvaldo.

“They just – they killed him. They didn’t try to help him at all,” said Gabriela.

The car that officers were called to investigate was not the stolen car they were looking for.

Osvaldo Cueli’s children said they were both interviewed by the FDLE, and they’ve retained an attorney.

7News cameras on Tuesday morning captured Aventura Police and multiple Miami-Dade Police Special Response Team vehicles arriving at home in the area off of 57th and Southwest 162nd Avenue. Officers also deployed several flash-bangs inside the home.

Residents in the area reacted to the raid.

“I was awakened by my younger brother, who does attend the high school across the street, saying that he was afraid to go outside because he had heard some really loud, what seemed to be gun shots,” Samantha Mazo said.

While no shots were fired, officers broke down the door at the home and were able to bring out several people in cuffs while they searched the residence.

“We saw some people being detained but they were released,” Mazo said. “We did see one sir in handcuffs and he was taken away from what it seemed to be, and after that, it was just more coming in and out of the house.”

According to Aventura PD, a warrant was executed at the residence following a monthslong investigation into the attempted burglary that happened at the International Jewelers Exchange, located at 19275 Biscayne Blvd.

The jewelry store was damaged on Oct. 19, 2023 after, police said, three would-be burglars crashed into it with a flatbed truck. They left the store empty-handed after finding out the display cases were empty.

As a result of the raid, Luis Angel Herrera Ramirez, 31, was arrested.

Mazo were shocked to see so many armored vehicles and so many officers in tactical gear wielding long guns.

“To know that something flew under the radar is terrifying,” Mazo said. “You never know who your neighbors are,” she said.

While the home raided was in Miami-Dade, the case originated out of Avenutra, which is about an hour away.

“It was concerning, it was weird,” Mazo said. “Usually, we deal with the regular Miami-Dade, but Aventura, it kind of, more red flags, you know, what really happened, what’s going on, how deep is, it is that serious, is it dangerous? We still live here.”

Ramirez was charged with one count of burglary/smash and grab, one count of grand theft auto due to the U-Haul truck used to crash into the store that was stolen and one count of criminal mischief/vandalism.

Police are still looking for the other subjects involved in the attempted burglary at the jewelry store.

He was transported to the Dade County jail.

The owner of International Jewelers Exchange told 7News he is thankful for the work the Aventura Police Department has done.

The National Weather Service said an EF-Zero tornado whipped through a small neighborhood in Davie near Nova Village Drive ripping down a tree onto a home and tearing a bumper off of a car.

“I started hearing crashing. I’m like ‘Oh no! It’s a tornado. I’m out of here,'” said Giancarlo Gonzalez.

Fourteen-year-old Gonzalez was inside his home when the tree fell onto and through his roof. The damage could be seen in their attic.

“I just see the roof, just coming down!” said Gonzalez.

Just a few houses down from Gonzalez’s home, JC Mondesir was almost blown away while working out in the yard when the tornado touched down.

“I would take a hurricane over a tornado any day. A tornado you can prepare for but a tornado, nope.” said Mondesir. “I went over here and I went down like this!! Spread my legs and then I could see that tree go, I saw the branches coming! I saw those going and then I started praying and then I heard the chimes start going ‘ringringringringring,’ the chimes started spinning like this, started spinning! I’m hearing them go ‘dingdingdingding!’ I’m like ‘Oh no!’ and then it just stops.”

Mondesir thanked God for saving his life.

“God put me in the right spot at the right time. Saved my life.” said Mondesir.

7News cameras captured cars in a nearby Carmax parking lot trapped by a tree.

“Around 2:30 in the afternoon, a cell developed in Miami-Dade County and moved northeast through Broward County,” said National Weather Service Science Operations Officer Donal Harrigan.

Harrigan spoke to 7News as he surveyed the damage done to Mondesir’s home by the tornado.

“Any time we get a cold front that comes through here in the winter time, especially during an El Nino year, where they tend to be more dynamic, they have stronger winds. Any time a frontal boundary approaches, there’s the potential to have some tornadoes along with it,” said Harrigan.

People impacted by the storms told 7News that they are thankful to be alive as material things can be replaced but a life cannot.

Officials urged residents to stay prepared for days like Sunday because the impact is widespread.

Events such as the Coconut Grove Art Festival was shutdown, trees fell all over Pembroke Pines, a waterspout turned into a tornado in Cudjoe Key and a Tamarac woman had part of her roof collapse from water damage on Sunday. No injuries were reported.

Miami-Dade Police and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to reports of a person shot in the area of Northwest 103rd Street and Seventh Avenue, just after 10 p.m., Friday.

Responding officers arrived to find the victim suffering from at least one gunshot wound.

Paramedics transported the patient to Ryder Trauma Center in stable condition.

Back at the scene, 7News cameras captured a perimeter that extends as far as the Sunflex gas station, as well as two parked civilian cars with their headlights on.

Officers have shut down Northwest 103rd Avenue near the on-ramp to I-95, so drivers are unable to access the on-ramp.

Officials urge drivers to avoid the area and seek alternate routes.

Police said they have detained a man to determine his involvement, as they continue to investigate.

On Friday morning, 14 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews responded to the blaze along the 700 block of Northeast 128th Street.

When crews arrived, they found smoke coming from a single-story apartment building.

“They faced heavy smoke from all sides of the building,” said MDFR Division Chief Marc Chavers.

The flames forced five families out onto the street as smoke filled their homes. According to MDFR, the families were displaced from the five-unit apartment complex.

No injuries have been reported.

Residents told 7News that the fire started in the building’s meter room. 7News cameras captured how the area was burned as a result of the fire.

“I don’t know where to go,” said resident Mesly Cherydant.

Cherydant said she had already left for work when he got the frantic call from his wife who said they were woken up by a strange noise.

“She just called me at 6:30, she says the house has a fire, so when I say, ‘What happened,’ she opened the window and she could see the fire in the back and when I come, I see the fire in my apartment, in the back of my apartment,” he said.

Now, these families are trying to figure out their next steps

One family member affected, Starah Gabaud, said she left her family’s home as quickly as she could when she saw the smoke and flames.

“It was so scary. We didn’t have sandals on; we just ran and went across the street,” she said.

As the families watched fire crews battling the flames, they knew their lives had forever changed.

“It was like we was losing everything,” said Gabaud. “We thought we was going to be, like, with nothing left.”

Gabaud said her family had more luck than some of their neighbors.

“Just the light burn, so we can save everything,” she said.

But neighbors like Cherydant were not as lucky.

“I lost my bed, my clothes, so many things inside the home, everything lost,” said Cherydant.

Volunteers with the American Red Cross are providing temporary assistance to the families impacted by the fire.

Gabaund said she and her family will be living in a shelter until another apartment is found.

7News also reached out to the building’s landlord, who said he is assisting the families that have been displaced.

If you are interested in helping out, you can donate to the local red cross.

The city’s mayor on Thursday unveiled details on how they plan to do that ahead of the busy month of March.

“We welcome everyone to come to our city,” said Miami Beach Mayor Steve Meiner.

Meiner said the city’s message is that everyone is welcome to have fun, but if you want to cause trouble, it’s going to be a lot harder to do and a lot harder to get away with it.

Over the past couple of years, spring break has left Miami Beach riddled with shootings, stampedes and all-around bad behavior.

“We’ve tried very, very hard to mitigate some issues of spring break. People getting shot and killed,” said Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne Jones.

The city said their goal this year for spring breakers is to keep the peace.

During the month of March, beach access will be limited with security checkpoints to enter the sand. After 6 p.m, the traffic pattern will change to help reduce traffic impacts south of Fifth Street. The towing fee for non-residents will double to $516.

The city said that during the two busiest weekends in March, parking fees will increase to a flat rate of $100, sidewalk cafes along Ocean Drive will close, and there will be a DUI checkpoint along the 400 block of Fifth Street.

Police said the eastbound lanes on the MacArthur and Julia Tuttle causeways will have license plate readers.

“Coming across the causeways during the evening hours will be long and slow,” said Jones.

Businesses renting low-speed vehicles, along with scooters, mopeds, motorcycles and Slingshots will be suspended from operating.

“Come here, enjoy, but don’t come here looking for trouble. We’ve had enough,” said Meiner.

City officials indicated that parking enforcement and towing will be heavily enhanced, especially in residential areas.

A free trolley will be available on the weekends of March 8 and 15 from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. for those looking to get around the city.

Surveillance video captured the moment when, police said, the alleged carjackers crashed into a home in the area of Northwest 79th Avenue and 192nd Street, just before 2:30 a.m., Wednesday.

The security footage also shows one subject fleeing the scene.

At around 6 a.m., 7News cameras captured a large police presence and multiple damaged vehicles in the neighborhood.

According to Miami-Dade Police, two subjects were trying to break into a car in front of a home when the victim interrupted.

“That vehicle’s owner came out and confronted those two subjects,” said MDPD Detective Andre Martin.

Investigators said an altercation erupted between the vehicle’s owner and the subjects.

“The vehicle’s owner produced a firearm, fired into the direction of the subjects. The subjects fled in a nearby vehicle,” said Martin.

The driver smashed into a few other vehicles as the car came to a stop close to where the incident began, causing serious property damage.

“The person that was shot was the subject that we have deceased here on the scene. It is unknown whether or not anyone else was injured in this incident,” said Martin.

A neighbor who lives in the area and identified himself as Daniel spoke to 7News about the crash. Speaking in Spanish, he said he didn’t know what happened to the cars.

“Look at this mess. I am waiting for the insurance to arrive and remove the cars,” he said. “No, I’m not the owner of the house. I don’t even know what happened here.”

7Skyforce captured the subject’s body near the white vehicle.

A family arrived on the scene shortly after, and a woman was seen breaking down on the ground and crying. The man who was comforting the woman came back to the scene on Wednesday afternoon.

Reporters swarmed the man, asking him his relationship to the victim.

“That’s my son,” said the man.

Anita, another neighbor with spoke to 7News, said her Ring camera captured the aftermath of the crash.

“[It was at] 2:46 a.m. The police, you see, when they crash,” she said.

Martin, meanwhile, had a message for the community, especially for people who might encounter somebody who is trying to break into their car.

“Citizens who find themselves becoming a victim of a crime, not to confront these subjects,” Martin said. “It’s very dangerous. You don’t know how desperate these people are, and you don’t know how that situation might end. So we urge the community, if you find yourself become the victim of a crime, do not confront the subjects. Please contact the police.”

Another subject is still on the run, as police continue their search. It is unclear what this individual looks like.

It also remains unclear whether the victim who shot and killed the alleged thief will face any charges.

If you have any information on this attempted break-in, shooting or crash that could help police, 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.

On Tuesday, during a meeting at the Loews Hotel, located at 1601 Collins Ave., officials discussed a list of changes that will help aid in stopping the lawlessness.

Spring break at Miami Beach is infamous for its shootings, stampedes and all around bad behavior.

“We won’t tolerate disorderly conduct, unruly behavior, stampedes, shootings, loss of life,” said Miami Beach Group 3 Commissioner Alex J. Fernandez. We’re shutting the door on spring break and that’s the message that we are putting out here.”

Over the years, city leaders have tried to cut down on the chaos, but this year, the city is taking its most drastic measures yet.

“Essentially, we want to divorce ourselves from spring break,” said Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne A. Jones.

“Miami Beach is ready, Miami Beach will not tolerate any behavior that is outside the norm,” said Miami Beach City Manager Alina Hudak.

The plan to quell the spring break madness includes pumping up paid parking prices in lots and garages with prices as high as $100 a day.

“If you’re seeking to drive into Miami Beach, driving in with guns, with drugs, you won’t have a place to park,” Fernandez said. “We’re raising prices parking rates up to $100, we’re closing the garages early, sidewalk cafes will be closed early and we’ve been announcing for a year now that it’s possible that we’ll have a curfew during spring break.”

During the two busiest weekends in March, sidewalk cafes will be closed and scooter and slingshot rentals will be off limits.

Visitors to the beach can also expect several DUI checkpoints and license plate readers that will scan the causeways.

If a person’s vehicle gets towed, they are expected to pay up to double to retrieve their vehicle. There will also be security checkpoints for those who head to the beach from Ocean Drive and no one will be allowed access after 6 p.m.

“Choking down the causeways, choking down the businesses, choking down traffic, choking down parking, it’s totally anti-hospitality,” said David Wallack, owner of Mango’s Tropical Cafe.

Wallack said that scheduling three-day concerts with international allure would have taken March in a better direction.

“Literally without a fantastic special event,” he said. “Look at what we are left with. Preparing for war,” said Wallack.

Homeowners hope that the checkpoints will keep the city safe.

“We don’t want to continue to have this disrupting life of the people who actually live here and also the life of the people who want to come and have a good time as a tourist,” said Andres Asion.

Just like in years past, Miami Beach Police will have help from law enforcement agencies across South Florida.

City leaders are hoping that this March passes without the madness.

“We’re proactively sending a message out there. You come to Miami Beach, you come have a good time and enjoy our city but if you come to break the laws, there’s going to be serious consequences,” Fernandez said.

There are still no dates and times for curfews as city officials said those will be put in place as needed.

Pinecrest Police responded to a disturbance between customers on Feb. 1 at the restaurant located at 8975 S Dixie Hwy.

Two men got into a heated argument after a man in a blue shirt got impatient after waiting four minutes for a guy in a black shirt to finish ordering at the cash register.

But the man in the black shirt was never able to finish ordering as the man in the blue shirts starts getting angry.

The man in the black shirt, identified as Enrique Fernandez, tells the man in the blue shirt that he can skip him and order first. That suggestion was the spark of the fight as the two ended up squaring off against each other.

Video showed Fernandez getting brutally attacked by the man in the blue shirt as he gets whacked in the face, nailed in the neck, and smashed into the cash register.

The footage continued to show Fernandez fighting back; he throws a chair towards the man in the blue shirt, striking him on his side. The man in blue then exits the restaurant.

Shortly after, both men left the restaurant, and man Fernandez returned holding a towel over his bloody face. Police and rescue crews arrived on scene to assess the situation.

Customers entering the Pinecrest restaurant on Monday were shocked to see the fight that occurred earlier this month.

“That’s crazy,” said one man as he was shown the video.

“That’s so crazy,” said another person.

The subject wearing the blue shirt is still at large as police continue looking for him.

If you have any information on this restaurant brawl, 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

Thirty-three-year-old Lázaro Hernández is currently in the hospital in connection to violent and chaotic chain of events.

According to Miami-Dade Police, the suspect was at the Village of Dadeland apartment complex, located off Southwest 82nd Court, when he hit a parked pickup truck and took off, Friday morning.

The police report details how the owner of the black pickup called 911, then went out to assess the damage.

Minutes later, the police report stated, “The defendant returned to the scene and began to drive towards the victim.

The report further states, The victim, in fear for his life, discharged his firearm at the defendant, striking him in the face.”

Detectives said Hernández drove off, but stopped off of Sunset Drive.

7News cameras captured the driver’s blood on the road, as well as a smeared handprint on the vehicle’s door.

Paramedics with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue transported Hernández to Jackson South Medical Center in stable condition.

Back on Sunset Drive, MDPD officers blocked the roadway while they investigated.

Back at the Village of Dadeland, Magnolia Hernández, the suspect’s ex-wife and mother of his three children, said she heard the shots being fired. She told 7News that the hospital called her and told to her that her ex-husband was in critical condition.

“He’s tubed up in the hospital fighting for life. That’s what the hospital just told me,” she said in Spanish.

She doesn’t know why her ex came to the complex in the first place, since he doesn’t live there.

Later on, Magnolia recorded cellphone video of the shooter standing next to the truck.

7News spoke with the shooter’s family, who identified him as Christian Hernandez and said, despite his last name, he is not related to the suspect.

In the video recorded by Magnolia, Christian said in Spanish that this was not his first encounter with the suspect. Christian said Hernández had threatened to hit him with a piece of concrete previously.

“All I heard was, like, him calling the cops and the gunshots,” said Sam Hernandez, Christian’s daughter.

Sam said she’s still in shock and doesn’t know exactly why this happened.

“My heart dropped,” she said.

Magnolia said she’s still shocked and sad for her children.

Detectives detained both Christian and Lázaro for questioning as they get to the bottom of what happened. Lázaro remains in the hospital, while Christian was detained at the police station.

No charges have been filed.

The black truck was later towed from the scene and was taken in for evidence.

Cellphone video showed a crushed car Thursday following a crane collapse as crews spent the morning trying to figure out how to upright the toppled crane.

Another crane was brought to the scene, and crews are going to use it in an attempt to upright the one that collapsed in the area of Northeast 111th Street and 14th Avenue, Wednesday afternoon.

Neighbors said the sound was hard to miss.

“I was lighting up the grill and threw a steak on the grill, and I heard a big boom,” said area resident Tyra Sanders.

“It was just scary just thinking about it,” said a resident who identified himself as Saint. “It sounded like, you know how a bunch of things fall from very far? Like, from very high, I mean. It sounded like a bunch of things falling to the ground. I was like, ‘Whoa.’ It’s, like, I know they were installing street poles around where I stay.”

7Skyforce showed the scene from above, showing the significant damage the crane had done, not only to homes, but power lines as well.

“My neighbor and I saw helicopters and things like that, so I thought they were after a criminal or something,” said Sanders, “but my neighbor called and told me that a crane had fell over.”

The collapse caused a diesel spill in the area.

Officials with Florida Power and Light said 100 customers spent the night without power.

Crews worked overnight to restore it, as the goal turned to cleaning up this mess.

“They installed a couple of street poles. So I thought, like, ‘One of them probably fell from the crane.’ It was very daunting. I was like, ‘Oh, hold on, like, is anybody hurt?’ That was my first question.” said Saint. “Thank God that nobody got hurt.”

A representative from FPL said they are investigating the incident to determine what went wrong.

Residents of a four-unit apartment building that was damaged due to the collapse have been put up in a hotel, according to the landlord.

The U.S. Department of Labor is investigated the incident.

It is unclear how long it will take to get the crane upright and out of the area.

Service workers from Florida Power and Light and Miami-Dade Police units responded to Northeast 111th Street and 14th Avenue, near Biscayne Boulevard, Wednesday afternoon.

7Skyforce captured the crane on its side between the two buildings.

Part of the crane fell on top of power lines, shutting down power for the entire area. As of 8 p.m., 100 customers were without electricity.

No injuries were reported.

The crane was in the neighborhood because crews were going to install concrete power poles. It remains unclear how the crane fell on its side.

Neighbors said they heard a big sound, which made them come outside.

“That is just scary. It sounded like a bunch of things falling to the ground,” said Saint, a resident in the area. “I was like, ‘Whoa.’ It’s, like, I know they were installing street poles around where I stay.”

Others said they first believed the smashing sound was the result of a police search.

“I heard a big boom, and my neighbor and I saw helicopters and things like that, so I thought they were after a criminal or something,” said Tyra Sanders.

Sanders said she heard the sound in the middle of grilling.

“Actually, I got my potato on the grill,” said Sanders. “It was kind of surprising.”

Saint said he walked outside wondering one thing.

“That was my first question, like, ‘Did anyone get hurt?'” he said. “It’s kinda scary, you know, knowing that could have happened to anybody, could have been on our end when they were working by our house and, like, you know, somebody could’ve been at home, and they got lucky that nobody was in the area when it hit the house.”

Crews may have to disassemble the crane in pieces to transport it away from the scene.

FPL and MDPD vehicles blocked 111th Street for hours.

The landlord who owns the four-unit apartment building near where the collapse took place told 7News that he’s making accommodations for his tenants.

On Thursday morning, crews continued working restore power in the area. Meanwhile, it remains unclear how many people are displaced as a result of this incident.

Aventura Police units arrived at the mall, located at 19501 Biscayne Blvd., Wednesday afternoon.

According to police, a woman stabbed the 19-year-old victim in the Miami-Dade County Transit terminal, located in the first floor of a parking garage, and fled the scene, at around 12:45 p.m.

“We do have information that a Black female may have been involved in some kind of an incident with this individual, stabbed him and fled the scene,” said Aventura Police Sgt. Hans Maestre.

Investigators said the victim was riding in the same bus as his assailant, and the incident occurred after they got off in the terminal. The victim told detectives that he did not engage in an altercation with the woman prior to the stabbing.

7News cameras captured police tape blocking a portion of the garage.

“We don’t have video, we don’t have information that we can release at this time, but our bureau is looking into the matter,” said Maestre.

The victim was transported to HCA Florida Aventura Hospital for treatment and remains in stable condition.

Police believe that the stabbing was a random act, adding that the woman could be anywhere between her 20s and her 40s.

If you have any information on this stabbing or the subject’s whereabouts, call Aventura Police at 305-466-8989 or 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.

The crash occurred on Jan 23 near the 1200 block of North Krome Avenue in Florida City.

Officers were responding to a robbery at a convenience store when 19-year-old, Giavanni Mendez-Simon, smashed into a police cruiser that was parked along the street.

Video shows officers running out of the way as they see the Silver Honda smashing into the sergeant’s squad car head-on. One of them is knocked down by the force of the smash.

“I got an officer down,” said one officer.

“Oh shoot,” said the injured officer.

The officer came to the other’s help as he lay on the ground.

“You sure you don’t need help?” said one officer.

“Nah, I’m gonna stay down,” said the officer on the floor.

The officer was later transported to Jackson Memorial South for treatment.

“You good?” asked one officer.

“I’m trying brother. Ah.” said the injured officer. “See if that guy is intoxicated or something.”

Police circled the Honda and cut the seat belt off of Simon. Simon got out of the car, following the officers’ directions, as they waited for rescue crews to arrive.

Simon was then arrested and transported to jail. When he bonded out, Simon spoke to 7News.

“I have never drank like that. It’s like the second time that I’ve done that,” he said, “So, I ask the gentleman for forgiveness, that God would take care of him and heal him,” said Simon.

The injured officer has since left the hospital and is recovering at home. The suspect faces a long list of charges including driving under the influence and not having a valid driver’s license.

The case stems from a traffic stop on June 11 on Pines Boulevard when an SUV rear-ended two cars. One of the cars was an unmarked vehicle belonging to an off-duty City of Miami officer.

“I’m the one that stopped him. I’m off duty. He’s going to be DUI,” said the officer in body camera video.

Body camera video showed the driver appearing to stumble, had trouble following directions and even made a nasty hand gesture to the officer.

As the hours passed, even though the off-duty officer said he was waiting for the DUI unit to arrive, they never came.

According to the incident report, written by Pembroke Pines officer Zarick Jackson, the DUI investigation was not done because of a language barrier.

“A DUI investigation was not conducted by me due to the driver of vehicle 1 only speaking Spanish and me only speaking English,” the report read.

Jackson also said that he did suspect alcohol use.

7News has learned that an internal affairs investigation into how the crash is handled is complete. Jackson has been given a 20-hour suspension and will take a 40-hour DUI training course.

The suspect’s case is closed after he had his crashed car towed away and paid over $300 in fines and fees.

The 26-member Israeli youth basketball team arrived in Miami from Israel on Tuesday. Two days later, they battled it out on the basketball court, in a change from the sounds they usually hear since the Oct. 7 attacks.

“These are kids that were directly affected. Some of their family members were killed, family members that have been taken captive,” said event organizer Gabe Seghi.

The nonprofit group Project Twenty Four set up the trip for the basketball team in Miami as a way to get a taste of normalcy.

During the trip, they’ll play games at the Jewish community center, watch a Miami Heat game, and get to meet several Heat players.

“These projects are about connecting Jews in the diaspora with problems in Israel and putting them together so they can work together,” said Project Twenty Four’s Daniel Gradus.

Following the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attacks, Risa Chopp helped create this event to unify the kids in this very difficult moment in their lives.

“We thought about creating a multi-school tournament so that it’s less about competition, more about Jewish unity,” said Chopp.

The unity will stretch far, as nearly all of the boys on the basketball club, Hof Ashkelon, are from a kibbutz in southern Israel, the forefront of the war. Due to the war, nearly all of them were displaced from their homes.

One of those displacements occurred to cousins Omer Yahav and Uria Vax, who said playing on the basketball court is a welcome distraction.

“It’s a lot easier, like just relaxing a bit, like no break from everything. Just like just being able to be with your friends,” said Yahav.

The team played against other Jewish day schools, meeting for the second time since the bombs and bullets tore their world apart.

It was a sight that brought a smile to their coach, Sagee Katav, who is also affected by the ongoing war.

“We get some amazing feeling, just to get out of Israel and come here to play, forget a little bit about what’s happening back home,” said Katav.

Chopp said her family is one of many helping to host the boys, and she’s already seeing the bonds being created to last a lifetime.

“The kids are amazing, they become really close friends with my sons. I have sons the exact same age, so that’s the most meaningful part for me,” she said.

It’s the kind of love that cannot be captured on the scoreboard.

“It is a testament to our people, how much we love each other,” said a rabbi.

If you are interested in connecting with Project Twenty Four to help with any other events, click here

A destructive blaze in Hallandale Beach consumed a home, leaving it in ruins and affecting power lines in the overnight hours.

Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue units responded to the scene on the 600 block of Northwest Third Street, just after 11 p.m., Tuesday.

Ring camera video from a neighboring home showed thick, black smoke billowing into the air from the engulfed house.

Another area resident captured the house fully engulfed in flames on their cellphone.

The fire intensified, leading to part of the roof collapsing during the firefight.

Fire officials declared the house a total loss.

Although nearby structures were not affected by the fire, residents in neighboring homes said they were forced to escape.

Barbara Lovett described the chaotic moments.

“We were in bed, and we heard a loud boom, and the police [yelled], ‘Get out, get out!'” she said.

Lovett said she crawled out of a window, injuring her arm in the process.

“I jumped out of there. I had to, I had no choice. I was running for my life,” she said. “I was scared, you know? That time of night, unexpected

Lovett showed 7News the exact spot where she escaped.

“I’m still living,” Lovett said. “Feel good. Still living.”

Firefighters said three people and two homes lived in the home, but neighbors told 7News it was abandoned.

“Empty for some time, since I’ve been living here, five years,” said a woman.

The incident also resulted in downed power lines, disrupting electricity to the affected area. Neighbors said power was restored to the area around 3 a.m. Wednesday.

It took fire crews about 40 minutes to completely put out the house fire.

No injuries or damage to other nearby homes were reported.

7News cameras captured police officers at the charred property, Wednesday afternoon. A propane tank was seen below a window.

Firefighters have also returned to the home a few times throughout the day to check on hotspots.

About 30 miles south, a house in Cutler Bay also caught fire on Wednesday, leaving a family without a home.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to the property in the area of Belmont Drive and Southwest 198th Street, just after 3:30 a.m.

7Skyforce captured the aftermath of the flames as it left a giant hole on the roof of the house.

No injuries were reported, but the family cat did pass away as a result of the fire.

Fire crews were able to contain the fire.

The cause of both fires are currently under investigation.

If you would like to help the Cutler Bay family, they set up a GoFundMe page, If you would like to make a donation, click here.

Just before 9:30 p.m., units were dispatched near Atlantic Boulevard and Dixie Highway where they immediately worked the situation. Deputies reportedly located the female driver who was found dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported, authorities said.

7News cameras captured the aftermath, revealing significant damage to the white Lexus involved in the collision with the Brightline train. Police blocked off the railroad tracks for several hours before opening the area to traffic once again.

“The patient is pinned between the car and the actual train,” said a dispatcher over Broadcastify police scanner. “She has agonal breathing right now.”

Ryan, a witness to the incident, was at the bus terminal across the street.

“It was very very very very loud,” he recalled. “She was in between the track. Like, I don’t know if she stopped and panicked but she had no way to back up.”

This recent incident adds to the growing concern of cars attempting to beat trains at crossings.

Brightline, along with local governments, has invested millions in safety campaigns to prevent such incidents. However, according to the Associated Press, Brightline holds the distinction of having the highest number of fatalities per mile among all rail companies in America.

Tuesday night’s incident is part of a series of incidents that have drawn attention to the safety of Brightline services. A federal investigation is underway following three deaths that occurred on Jan. 10 in Melbourne involving trains that travel between Orlando and South Florida.

“It’s heartbreaking,” said a woman who was asked about the incidents in Melbourne.

“I can’t wrap my head around it,” said another woman. “It’s just sad.”

The Associated Press said that since Brightline commenced services back in 2017, more than 100 deaths have been reported. All of the incidents have been a result of drivers attempting to beat the train or passerby’s trespassing onto the train tracks.

“They think they can beat the train and they cannot beat the train,” said one man.

7News cameras captured two vehicles in Pompano Beach getting stuck under the train crossing barriers as nearby workers helped those drivers by lifting the barriers so they can reverse away from the train tracks. This only hours after, and a few hundred feet away, from Tuesday’s deadly incident.

As deputies investigate this Brightline collision, Ryan wanted to give the community some advice after what he saw.

“You don’t have to be so close. You know, a few seconds until the train is over to get wherever it is you need to go,” he said. “It’s not worth your life.”

Deputies have yet to identify the driver of the white Lexus.