The flyover bridges connecting westbound traffic to U.S. 1 and Interstate 95 were set to be closed for the next two months to allow crews to work on concrete pavement on the bridge decks, according to FDOT.

The lane closures on Sunday caused traffic headaches for drivers who left Key Biscayne and tried to return to the mainland.

“I went out on [Key] Biscayne for about an hour and a half,” said Pierre De Agostini.

7News received emails from frustrated drivers at around 1:30 p.m.

Gary Nurineia said he was stuck for five hours after leaving work at The Golden Hog.

“I was in that heavy traffic until I got to my home at 1 a.m.,” he said.

Business owners on Key Biscayne said this traffic nightmare is not safe for their employees.

“Some arrived to their homes at 2 o’clock in the morning, and once we leave here, we feel very uncomfortable in these situations in case of an emergency,” said business owner Jorge Gonzalez.

FDOT told 7News that construction wasn’t supposed to start until 9 p.m.

A statement released by FDOT reads in part:

While the original maintenance of traffic plan was developed with all appropriate factors considered, it was overwhelmed with the volume of vehicles ingressing and egressing from Key Biscayne yesterday.

Florida Department of Transportation

According to FDOT, by Wednesday morning, the southbound lanes will fully reopen to allow time for the installation of guardrails. While this installation occurs, surface streets should be utilized.

Commuters said they are grateful to see the accommodation in order to avoid being stuck again for hours.

“Very relieved, I don’t have to come up with different accommodations,” said a school teacher who lives in the area.

The work, originally planned to last two months, is part of a rehabilitation project to the bridges, which are nearly 50 years old, and is imperative to the structural integrity of the bridges and the safety of the traveling public, FDOT said in a release.

FDOT officials said they will continue to work with local officials on revised traffic management plans and signalization coordination.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SWAT teams were later seen clearing out of the neighborhood.

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

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

In response to the fatal shooting, the city is hoping to address potential measures, like bar hours of operation and enhanced security, that may prevent tragedies in the future.

“He lost his life doing his job,” said Doral Mayor Christi Fraga after the tragic incident.

On Wednesday morning, Fraga led the discussion, titled “Policy and permits for extended hours,” and is going to talk about Doral’s ordinance and how to move forward regarding nightclubs in Doral.

“Right now, what we’ll do is put a hold on all of the extended hour applications and once the ordinance changes, which is what I’m proposing, that we change it to be until 2 a.m. Then that’ll be the max that anybody can ask for an extension to,” said Fraga in an interview with 7News ahead of the meeting.

On Wednesday afternoon, officials held a workshop to provide a platform of deliberation on proposed policy adjustments and to discuss safety measures within Doral’s nightlife scene.

The shooting at CityPlace unfolded after, Doral Police said, the shooting occurred after two people got into a fight over a pillow. Authorities working the area immediately responded and shot and killed the gunman, who was identified as Jamal Wayne Wood.

Despite his efforts to intervene and protect others, George Castellanos succumbed to his injuries.

“So he goes out there and tries to separate the fight and when he does, the guy just takes out a gun and shoots him two times. One in his chest and the other in his stomach,” said George’s mother, Jeannine, the day after her son was killed.

Six other innocent bystanders and a Doral police officers are also recovering after being shot in the exchange.

Officials will examine bar hours of operation so something like this doesn’t happen again.

“We will look at incident reports and decide whether its a good idea to keep the same time operations or to reduce that,” said Mayor Fraga.

For the past two decades, some bars were able to stay open until 4 a.m. with permission. Another undeniable issue is firearms in plain sight.

“Require a security company to have a mobile metal detecting device for additional security measures that must be utilized for the entrance of any patron into the establishment,” added Fraga.

The Castellanos family wants to see more of those regulations. They know it won’t bring back their son’s beaming smile, but they will make sure his death will not be in vein.

“My son is 22, almost 23, and he was also planning to work at that place, at that time,” said Councilwoman Digna Cabral at Wednesday’s meeting. “My thoughts and prayers to the family.”

Fraga hopes the ordinance will stop tragedies like this one from ever happening again.

“As the community has grown, as the city has evolved, we will now make a decision on whether it’s appropriate for those businesses to be open until that time. My opinion is, it’s not. We are a family-oriented community and this is what our residents want,” emphasized Fraga.

Once the council members decide they want to move forward with the proposed ordinance, it will be presented in two weeks to the full council and then again on May 8 for a final vote.

According to detectives, a fight broke out between patrons at Martini Bar, at around 3:30 a.m., Saturday.

“The security guard that was working intervened, and that’s when the subject produced a firearm and shot and killed the security guard,” said Miami-Dade Police Detective Álvaro Zabaleta.

Two City of Doral Police officers who were part of a security detail immediately responded and engaged the gunman.

“There was an exchange of gunfire between the subject and the officer. The officer shot and killed the subject; however, the officer also sustained a gunshot wound to the lower extremity,” said Zabaleta.

During the shootout, detectives said, six innocent bystanders were injured. They were taken to the hospital, where two are listed in critical condition and four are listed in stable condition.

Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez said the injured police officer was a four-year veteran, and after being wounded, applied a tourniquet to himself.

A total of nine people were shot:

• Gunman shot and killed
• Security guard shot and killed
• City of Doral Police officer shot
• Six bystanders shot (one female and five males)

“At this time, it’s too early to tell who was shot by who,” said Lopez.

CityPlace Doral remained blocked off for hours while police investigated. 7Skyforce hovered above the scene, after police had placed several evidence markers where the gunfire erupted.

The injured Doral Police officer is expected to be OK.

“We are grateful that he is alive and in stable condition, and we look forward to completing this investigation,” said Lopez.

In a message posted Saturday afternoon on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava wrote:

“Our hearts go out to the Doral community and @DoralPolice following last night’s gun violence, as we pray for a swift recovery for all those injured and for the families of the victims. Today, and every day, we are so grateful for the men and women in uniform who keep us safe.”

Sunday afternoon, a spokesperson for CityPlace Doral issued the following statement:

“On Saturday, April 6, at 3:30 a.m., an isolated incident occurred at CityPlace Doral’s Martini Bar. Our thoughts are with all those involved. The safety of our guests is always our top priority, and we have put a number of additional security measures in place. The Center, with the exception of Martini Bar, opened at 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 6. Thank you to the City of Doral law enforcement who were onsite and acted swiftly. We are fully cooperating with The City of Doral Police Department, Miami-Dade Police Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and other agencies as the incident is being investigated.”

According to officials, there are three active investigations underway by multiple agencies. City of Doral Police will continue to investigate the original altercation, Miami-Dade Police is conducting a homicide investigation, and FDLE will investigate the officer-involved shooting.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Crisis negotiators spent about four hours speaking with Smith.

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

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

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

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

T-Mobile released the following statement:

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

T-Mobile

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

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

Miami-Dade Police and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue were dispatched to a traffic crash in the area of Northwest 27th Avenue and 113th Street in Northwest Miami-Dade on Tuesday evening.

According to police, a civilian vehicle crashed into a motorcycle that had two male riders and then fled the scene. The two male riders were ejected from the motorcycle. One of them is in critical condition while the other is in stable condition.

Video shows the crashed motorcycle on its side on the street. Other video, which was blurred because of the graphic content, shows the two victims being treated by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.

Both victims were airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital Ryder Trauma Center.

If you have any information on this hit-and-run, 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.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued a Florida Missing Child Alert for 11-year-old Galiea Jones Duncanson on Tuesday afternoon.

When the parents received the call, they got in their car and headed north to reunite with their little girl.

She is described as standing at 5 feet, 1 inch, weighing about 160 pounds, and has brown eyes and black hair.

She was last seen wearing a blue shirt with colorful leggings and wearing a Powerpuff Girls backpack. She also has a Hello Kitty ink stamp on her left hand.

The father Dwight Duncanson tells 7News

“After she came from school having a bad day I picked her up early and one thing led to another and she just left a note and she is running away,” said Duncanson.

Police said that she has been diagnosed with autism and will be traveling on foot.

7SkyForce caught footage of police knocking door-to-door passing out missing persons flyer.

On March 1, Joshua Epstein was taken into custody and was charged with battery after Rose accused him of pushing him during a candidate debate at Surfside Town Hall on Feb. 28.

Epstein spoke with 7News on Monday after his charge was dropped.

“Huge relief, I mean, huge thank you to the Surfside community, thank you to the State Attorney’s Office for looking at the evidence and seeing it for the political stray that it was,” he said. “I’m going to use to this to fuel my passion for justice.”

Cellphone video captured on Feb. 28 showed Rose angrily yelling at Epstein.

“Keep pushing me, Josh. Keep pushing me. You already pushed me once, and it’s on camera,” said Rose.

“I haven’t touched you,” Epstein is heard saying. “If I did, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to. I didn’t push you, though.”

Although Rose accused Epstein of pushing him, the alleged encounter wasn’t caught on camera.

His mother, Eliana Salzhauer, a former town commissioner and herself a critic of city leaders, said the alleged push never happened.

“My son is a political activist in town. He’s 18, he’s very outspoken, and he’s a very outspoken critic of the current administration,” she said. “After the commissioner forum, Vice Mayor Rose came angrily charging at another resident, standing next to him and angrily getting into it with him. My son took out his phone and started recording. That’s what happened.”

Days after he was arrested, community activists gathered in Surfside and called for an independent investigation into a teen’s arrest and the former vice mayor’s actions.

Monday night, Rose issued the following statement:

“I, along with my family, am very disappointed that the Miami Dade State Attorney’s Office chose not to prosecute Joshua Epstein for battery as a felony or misdemeanor.

He pushed me. There were eyewitnesses to the incident, one of which the State Attorney’s Office did not even contact. The second eyewitness has been intimated and threatened with losing his job by supporters of Joshua. The State Attorney’s decision not to pursue felony charges for battery against an elected official as other Florida jurisdictions have done is also disappointing, especially given the plain meaning of the statute.

I fully support citizens’ rights to protest and speak out against elected officials. However, Joshua has made a habit of harassing and intimidating public officials outside of this particular incident and has now escalated to physical violence under the guise of activism. Joshua and his family’s efforts to muddy the water with contrived, conflicting witness statements along with their suspected connections to the media for bias coverage have all paid off. The decision not to prosecute has not only made all of that behavior okay, but has rewarded it. This incident has sadly shown that even if you are the perpetrator of a crime, if you have the loudest voices in your corner, you will prevail … even if those voices are not telling the truth.

Throughout this process, I have stayed silent because it was not about political gain or media attention. I chose to press charges, knowing that it would likely cost me re-election, because my safety and the safety of my family was more important. This decision has put our safety and the safety of other elected officials in jeopardy.”

On Friday, three of the Skytrain’s four stations resumed service, enabling smoother transitions for travelers going through the concourse.

The Skytrain stopped its operations in September after inspections revealed cracks under the track. Repair crews have since made enough progress to resume trips for most of the mile-long track.

“I am thrilled that most of our Concourse D Skytrain will soon be operational again,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who oversees MIA, in a news release. “Our unwavering commitment to passenger and employee safety prompted the temporary suspension of Skytrain services last September. With the impending reopening, travelers can expect seamless access to most Concourse D gates in just minutes.”

The repairs have reactivated stations 2, 3 and 4, covering gates D20 to D60. Station 1 will rejoin the network by the summer, costing a total of $4.2 million.

Since the closure of the Skytrain, American Airlines and MIA have offered golf-cart shuttles and bus rides for passengers who need to maneuver through the airport.

This Skytrain restoration comes amidst a broader airport modernization effort, with Miami-Dade County pouring a monumental $7 billion into capital improvements and $1.7 billion into maintenance upgrades.

The Modernization in Action Plan is set to revamp all 616 of MIA’s elevators, escalators and walkways, among other critical infrastructure updates. Already, strides have been made, with a focus on enhancing passenger boarding bridges and modernizing public restrooms.

Last month saw the launch of the “I AM MIA” campaign, an initiative toward enhancing customer service. This initiative deploys Lightning Crew teams throughout the terminal, tasked with quickly addressing maintenance needs and assisting passengers, further cementing MIA’s commitment to a premier travel experience.

As America’s primary gateway for international freight and a major hub for international passengers, particularly to Latin America and the Caribbean, MIA’s upgrades are vital to its continued role in supporting the economic vitality of Miami-Dade County and the state of Florida.

With an annual contribution of $31.9 billion in business revenue and attracting around 60% of Florida’s international visitors, the airport’s modernization efforts are crucial for sustaining its economic impact and improving the overall passenger experience.

As MIA gears up for a future of growth and enhanced service, the partial return of the Skytrain is a welcome development for travelers and a sign of more improvements to come.

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.

The suspect, Brendan Paul, was described in a recent lawsuit and was arrested on Monday.

He was charged with one count of possession of suspected cocaine and another of possession of suspected marijuana candy after federal agents intercepted Combs’ plane at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport.

This was also the last place Combs was seen in public since after the music mogul’s Star Island home in Miami Beach and his Los Angeles home were raided on Monday by federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations.

The searches were connected to an investigation by federal authorities in New York as part of a sex trafficking probe.

A Los Angeles resident and Combs’ neighbor weighed in on what he’s been seeing next door in recent months.

“I’ve seen black suburbans, Uber drivers, private drivers between 1-3 a.m., Ryan Mendelsohn said. “Sometimes earlier, sometimes later, but I’ve seen girls get out of the car in swimsuits, swimwear and bathing suits sometimes.”

According to TMZ, they reported that Combs’ private jet was spotted in Antigua Monday night.

All these events stemming after several sexual assault lawsuits were filed against Combs in recent months.

Combs’ former protege and girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie Ventura, sued him last year, alleging years of sex abuse and rape.

“Hopefully, this is the beginning of a process that will hold Mr. Combs responsible for his depraved conduct,” said the lawyer for Cassie and Jane Doe.

In February, producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, who was seen working out beside Combs, filed a lawsuit against the star claiming that Combs, his staff, and music executives knew about and were involved in illicit and unwanted sexual activities in Florida, New York, California and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

7News cameras on Tuesday captured activity at Combs’ Star Island home, where some house personnel were leaving the property and black SUVs were seen going in and out of the property as they dropped off, or possibly, picked up people in the home.

TMZ released footage taken from inside of Combs’ California mansion showing the aftermath of the raid. Deconstructed computers, messy, ransacked desks, furniture, cabinets, and open safes and drawers can be seen in the video as Homeland Security officials carried out their investigation.

“They had to present a probable cause statement before a magistrate judge, they had to produce some evidence that they were going to find evidence of criminal activity in his home,” said Attorney Areva Martin.

Combs’ attorney released a public statement for the first time on Tuesday stating the raids of his homes were “excessive” use of “military-level” force.

“Yesterday, there was a gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs’ residences. There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated. Mr. Combs was never detained but spoke to and cooperated with authorities. Despite media speculation, neither Mr. Combs nor any of his family members have been arrested nor has their ability to travel been restricted in any way. This unprecedented ambush — paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence — leads to a premature rush to judgment of Mr. Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits. There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations. Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name.”

Aaron Dyer, Diddy’s attorney

Sons Justin Dior Combs, 30, and King Combs, 25, were seen handcuffed outside their father’s Los Angeles mansion during Monday’s raid.

Currently, Combs has private security guarding his Star Island home that belongs to his security personnel.

Combs has not been charged with a crime and has not spoken out publicly addressing the investigation.

Eighteen-year-old Mykola Sokol appeared in bond court Saturday morning. He is facing serious charges in connection to the March 16 fight.

“He’s charged with child abuse, aggravated battery, aggravated great bodily harm,” said the presiding judge

Police said the incident took place at Gwen Margolis Park.

Cellphone video of the brutal beatdown was posted social media and quickly went viral.

“It was 100% an adult beating up a kid,” said Sunny Isles Beach Police Sgt. Brian D. Schnell.

The arrest report states Sokol went up to the boy to try to take his hat. A brawl ensues, and the suspect came out swinging.

Another person jumped in and punches the victim as well, investigators said, before Sokol took the victim to the ground and kicked his head, rendering him unconscious.

The video was shared to a community group chat, where the mothers of Sokol and the 14-year-old were able to identify their children.

“This young man has now been arrested, taken to [Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center], and he faces serious felony charges as an adult,” said Schnell. “I mean, the consequences of that could stay with him for the rest of his life. I mean, that’s as serious as it can get.”

Sokol posted bond and was given a stay-away order from the victim.

Police said they are still looking for the other person who is seen in the video.

Thirty years after Shannon Melendi’s kidnapping and murder, things have not changed for her family and her former coach.

On Tuesday, school leaders, Melendi’s father, sister, coach and even her former soccer teammates, came together at Southwest Miami Senior High School to warn students to be cautious when going out.

“I can’t bring Shannon back, but I can pass our experience to the kids and hopefully they will listen, and I think today’s presentation was really, really good by everyone,” said Luis Melendi, Shannon’s father.

Melendi was 19 years old and a sophomore at Emory University in Georgia when she disappeared in 1994. She grew up in Miami and went to Southwest Miami Senior High School.

Tragically, she was kidnapped, raped and murdered and her body was never found. It took several years for her assailant, Colvin C. Hinton, to be caught and tried for those crimes.

Hinton was convicted and is serving life behind bars. He also confessed to the crimes.

“I really want to convey the signature campaign and the importance it is for him to, he’s a third time sexual predator, he could not be rehabilitated, he needs to stay behind bars,” said Monique Benton, Shannon’s sister. That is our message, that is our fight.”

According to Georgia law, every five years, Hinton is up for parole. His date for possible parole is February 2025.

Melendi’s family started a petition to keep Hinton behind bars. If you’d like to sign the petition, click here.

Despite the anticipation surrounding primary day, there are no surprises expected at the top of the ticket: former President Donald Trump stands as the only actively running candidate for the Republican nomination, having secured enough delegates last week to become the party’s presumptive nominee.

“It’s very important because we all are citizens, should decide, that many people on the planet don’t have it,” said Pedro Delgado, a Republican voter.

Delgado came from Cuba in 60s and has never passed up to the opportunity to voice his choice.

“I know that Trump won but I want to have the pleasure of voting for Donald Trump,” he said.

The Democratic Party has opted opt of holding a primary vote this cycle, choosing instead to allocate their delegates to President Joe Biden.

Local elections are drawing considerable attention, particularly in Surfside, where the race for mayor is a rematch between incumbent Mayor Shlomo Danzinger and former Mayor Charles Burkett. Danzinger narrowly defeated Burkett by just 35 votes two years ago.

Voters in Pembroke Pines and Lauderdale-by-Sea are also casting their ballots in mayoral races.

In Southwest Miami-Dade there was a small turnout of voters as today’s primary doesn’t have much of an effect on the presidential candidates.

“It’s important because we all as citizens should exercise that and many people in the planet don’t have it,” said Pedro Delgado, who came to American in the 60s.

He added he would never pass up an opportunity to voice his choice.

“I know that Trump won, but it doesn’t make any difference. I want to have the pleasure of voting for Donald Trump,” said Delgado.

Olga Gonzalez said she also just wants to give symbolic support so that Trump knows her vote is for him.

These local elections are critical to the residents of these communities as they will be directly impacted by the policies and priorities of the elected officials.

According to Miami-Dade County’s government website, over 55,000 voters have already cast their ballot in this election via mail-in ballot or early voting.

Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections Christina White said out of the 1.6 million voters in the county, 4,000 have changed their party affiliation before the primaries since January, which she says isn’t uncommon.

“Florida law allows that as long as you make your party change before 29 days in advance of the election,” she said.

Florida is a closed primary state so only Republican voters can vote in the presidential primary election. For more information on Tuesday’s primary and future election dates, visit dos.fl.gov. At 7 a.m., precincts opened so voters can cast their ballots.

If you have a mail-in-ballot and want to turn it in, you can only turn it in at one of two places: The Miami-Dade County Elections Department in Doral or downtown at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center.

More than 30 U.S. citizens were on the government-chartered flight, officials said in a statement. It arrived in the Miami International Airport after the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince earlier this month urged U.S. citizens to leave “as soon as possible” as chaos grips Haiti.

Passenger Avlot Quessa, who lives in Boston, traveled from the center of the country to board the charter flight after going to Haiti last month for was supposed to be a weeklong trip to visit his mother.

“It’s just terrible … The suffering, you can only imagine,” Quessa told the Miami Herald of the nearby Caribbean nation. “Haiti is my homeland and it’s very stressful to see the homeland going through this act of violence, destruction … and they are our neighbors.”

Haiti’s main airport in Port-au-Prince remains closed following gang attacks that have raged through Haiti in recent weeks, pushing many people to the brink of famine. Government and aid agencies this weekend reported looting of aid supplies as the situation worsened.

The State Department announced Saturday that it would offer limited charter flights for American citizens from the less chaotic northern city of Cap-Haïtien.

Officials said they could not provide ground transportation to Cap-Haïtien and that U.S. citizens should consider the charter flights “only if you think you can reach Cap-Haïtien airport safely.”

“We encourage U.S. citizens still in Haiti who seek to depart to contact the Department of State using the crisis intake form on our website if they have not already done so,” the agency said.

People taking the U.S. government-coordinated flights must sign a promissory bill agreeing to reimburse the government.

Another passenger on Sunday’s flight, Marie Lucie St. Fleur, 69, of West Palm Beach, said she feels most at home in Haiti and it pains her to see what her homeland is enduring.

“I don’t feel well at all. I would like to live in my country and I can’t,” she said while sitting in a wheelchair.

The State Department said government officials in Miami were helping the newly arrived evacuees to determine their next steps.

The U.S. military last week flew in additional forces to bolster security at the U.S. Embassy, which is in a neighborhood largely controlled by gangs.

7News cameras captured a heavy police presence at the apartment complex in the area of Bird Road and Southwest 70th Court, early Sunday morning.

Resident Roberto Berrocan said he heard one gunshot.

So I was about to go to bed, and I heard – looked like a loud bang,” he said.

According to Miami-Dade Police, they received a 911 call just before 9 p.m. on Saturday.

MDPD and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to the complex shortly after.

“As our officers were rendering aid to this female, they heard another shot being fired within a residence,” said MDPD Detective Andre Martin,

“The floor upstairs from me. I’m in the fifth floor; this was in the sixth,” said Berrocan.

MDPD’s Special Response Team was called out, and they cleared out the apartment building.

“The Special Response Team responded and made entry into this apartment, where they located another female suffering from an apparent gunshot wound, as well as a male suffering from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” said Martin.

While it remains unclear what led to this shooting, investigators said the women were in their late 20s, the man was in his early 40s, and they all lived together.

“I mean, I’m really sad, you know. I don’t know the person so much but, you know, we were neighbors,” said Berrocan. “It’s just very sad.”

The incident remains under investigation.

7News cameras captured Boris Fernando Bastidas as he walked into jail in Pompano Beach in handcuffs, Thursday afternoon.

The FBI took the 35-year-old suspect into custody at his Coral Springs home earlier in the day.

The suspect’s neighbors were shocked to learn of his arrest.

“It’s appalling, and it’s sad,” said a neighbor.

The 35-year-old later appeared in federal court. He was ordered to be remain in custody until next week.

Bastidas was a teacher at Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory, located at 500 E. Chaminade Drive, where he was named Educator of the Year in 2023, when the alleged affair took place.

Bastidas was head of the school’s social studies department. He was also in charge of the after-school club Model U.N., of which the teenage girl was a member.

Investigators added that the suspect was also the teen’s teacher during her freshman year.

Students at Chaminade-Madonna who spoke with 7News were surprised by the alleged affair.

“It’s, like, irresponsible to do. It was very wrong, and I feel like he should have known it was wrong,” said a girl.

“I’m really uncomfortable, because I definitely, like, it makes me feel like there’s someone else,” said a boy.

In a 15-page report by the FBI, it detailed Bastidas’ alleged affair with the student.

Investigators said it began in July of 2023, after the student asked for help on a project. At first they messaged each other on the school’s email account, but they later exchanged emails on their private accounts.

Then they started texting each other, authorities said. The FBI report has records of the text messages and emails between Bastidas and the student.

On one of the exchanges, the report states, Bastidas wrote, “You’re one of the best students I’ve ever had … but you’re not just a student at this point.”

He also wrote, “You’re so naive, it’s adorable.”

In one of the exchanges, he wrote, “I’ll always love you. I need you. “I wanna love you.”

As time went on, investigators said, the teacher and the 15-year-old would get together in public places. He met her at her job last August, the report states, and had oral sex in parking lots in Hollywood and Miramar.

In other exchanges, authorities said, Bastidas wrote the teen, “Kissing you is like a dream. We should kiss all the time.”

He went on to say, “I want to touch your body. I want my body to touch on yours. I wanna [expletive],” and at one point he wrote,” I want to have sex with you.”

According to the FBI, Bastidas and the student had sex while they were in New York for a Model U.N. event in January, and that is why federal authorities became involved.

Investigators said the affair ended on Feb. 5. Sometime that month, the teen’s mother called the FBI to report the alleged relationship.

The head of the school, Dr. Judith Mucheck, released the following statement.

“When we became aware of the allegations, we conducted an investigation and he was terminated immediately.”

Dr. Judith Mucheck

Bastidas’ arrest comes a day after Felicia Sharonda Smith, a language arts teacher teacher at Driftwood Middle School in Hollywood, was arrested and charged with molestation of a child between the ages of 12 and 16 and lewd and lascivious conduct.

Smith, 39, is accused of molesting a female student with whom at first, police said, she had a maternal relationship. However, detectives said, it moved to kissing and physical contact that left marks on the child’s body.

The girl’s parents pushed for answers.

“Through further investigation, they were able to identify that it was from kissing, and it did look like a hickey on the student,” said Hollywood Police spokesperson Deanna Bettineschi.

Investigators said the girl admitted she skipped class to spend time in Smith’s classroom during her planning period.

According to the police report, the girl saw Smith as a loyal and faithful mother figure, and that the teacher told her not to tell anyone about their physical encounters in the classroom closet.

“To put someone in that position is never OK where there is a teacher in an authoritative role” said Bettineschi. “Many times, students look up to the teacher.”

Smith remains at the Paul Rein Detention Facility in Pompano Beach as of late Thursday night, though she has posted bond. Broward County Public Schools said she has been reassigned pending the outcome of this case.

She is expected to leave the detention facility on Friday at 1:15 p.m.

Bastidas is facing two federal charges. A pre-detention hearing was scheduled for Tuesday at 9 a.m., where a magistrate judge will determine whether or not he should be released on bond ahead of his trial.

Multiple Miami-Dade Police officers responded to the scene in the area of Southwest 112th Avenue and 30th Street, near the Florida International University campus, at around 4:15 a.m., Wednesday.

“Once they arrived, that’s when they discovered the male with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head and another female with an apparent gunshot wound to the head as well,” said MDPD Detective Alvaro Zabaleta.

“I’m not used to this in this neighborhood,” said an area resident. “We hear the news from other places, but this is quiet.”

According to investigators, the 33-year-old man wanted to end his life and decided to shoot himself. When he shot himself in the head, the bullet went through and struck his girlfriend in the head.

“This individual took his own life and, in the process, almost took his girlfriend’s life as well,” said Zabaleta.

“This is horrible. I pray for them,” said another area resident.

His 34-year-old girlfriend was not an intended target, police said. After she was struck, she was able to call 911.

“The original 911 call came from the female victim the moment she was shot,” said Zabaleta.

Her boyfriend was pronounced dead at the scene.

Their four children, ages 5 to 12, were present during the shooting but were not injured.

“The children, thankfully so, are not harmed,” said Zabaleta.

Paramedics with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue transported the injured woman to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital in critical condition, but she has since been listed as stable.

Neighbors told 7News the family kept to themselves.

“I just pray for them. It’s just so sad that these things happen,” said an area resident.

Police said the children are staying with other family members as their mother recovers.

Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims, as they continue to investigate.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to the entrance of the Everglades National Park, just after 4:45 p.m., Sunday.

According to the National Park Service, the 68-year-old reportedly capsized his boat while he was in the marina basin. After his boat went down, he attempted to swim to shore with his boat when he was seen going under water.

Park rangers and first responders located the injured victim and treated a laceration on his leg. He was then airlifted to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson South Medical Center in Southwest Miami-Dade.

As of Monday morning, the patient remained in the hospital in stable condition. His identity has not been disclosed.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the chances of getting bitten by an alligator in Florida is about 1 in 3.1 million.

Rangers and biologists at the park are investigating the incident and are monitoring the suspected crocodile.

7News cameras captured a heavy police presence but very few passers-by along Ocean Drive, just after 10 p.m., Saturday.

“Our message is clear: if you come to our city, we want you to really enjoy it, but you must be lawful,” said Miami Beach Police Officer Christopher Bess.

Local, state and federal authorities have teamed up to help keep spring break safe.

“So, since the duration of spring break, which has started last weekend, we have a little over 100 arrests so far, which according to the data, we’re down about 14%,” said Bess.

And vistors are noticing.

“There’s cop cars lined up on every street, so it’s been – I think it’s better than all the other years,” said a woman.

“A lot safer, more inviting,” said another woman. “My daughter said she wanted to come down here. I feel more confident with her coming now than how it was before.”

A woman visiting from North Carolina also pointed out the stepped-up police presence

“I feel very safe walking down, very secure,” she said.

As of late Saturday night, no shootings have been reported, a major change from prior years. Twenty-two shootings have taken place in South Beach over the past five years during spring break.

It’s spring break; it’s beautiful,” said a man.

Despite the quieter-than -normal streets, people still came out to have a good time.

“Spring break, everybody out of school, everybody chilling, everybody vibing, why not? said another man. “Let’s all gather up and party.”

7News cameras captured Jonathan Corraliza as he walked out of the Broward County Jail, Thursday night.

Authorities said Corraliza did nothing to help his puppy Hildy as she was being attacked.

Shortly after he bonded out of jail, Corraliza discussed the incident exclusively with 7News.

“I couldn’t come to terms with euthanizing my baby, and I cared for her,” he said.

Corraliza indicated that the incident in question is being misinterpreted.

“I feel like I’m being attacked for not euthanizing my dog,” he said.

Disturbing cellphone video captured the moment two larger dogs mauled Hildy along the 1500 block of Coolidge Street, Dec. 7.

The neighbor who recorded the video said he called police.

“What I heard was excruciating sounds of a dog in pain and screaming,” said the neighbor during a phone interview.

Since that moment, authorities issued an arrest warrant for Corraliza and removed Hildy from the home.

Thanks to the rescue group Paws 2 Care Coalition and the VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital, the puppy’s life was saved.

On Wednesday, Corraliza turned himself in to the Broward County Jail. The next day, he faced a judge.

Corraliza said he looks forward to his day in court.

“I’ll get my day to say my piece, and I just want to let everyone know that I’m extremely sorry about everything, but I’m not a dog fighter, at all,” he said.

Hildy has since made a full recovery.

As for Corraliza, he pleaded not guilty through his attorney and is expected back in court soon.

The incident happened on Feb. 18, just before 2:15 a.m., in the area of Northwest 19th Avenue and 28th Street.

Surveillance video captured the moment the subject got out of a newer model, silver Hyundai Elantra and ran up to the woman, who was sitting on a scooter with another person at a red light.

After a brief struggle, the subject, seen wearing a hoodie, took off with the purse.

“When he pulls on the purse, the victim falls on the ground, she hits her head,” said Miami Police Officer Michael Vega. “Luckily, she’s OK. She just suffered a minor concussion, and she was treated on the scene.”

Another camera angle shows the man running down the street with the purse.

Police hope the released video helps them in their search.

“The suspect that we’re looking for is a skinny, tall, Black male. At the time of the incident, he was wearing a gray hoodie and black shorts,” said Vega. “If anyone sees them, or recognizes them, we’re urging them to please contact the City of Miami.”

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

Detectives said the Miami Beach Police officers involved were responding to a “be on the lookout” from a neighboring agency of a possibly armed subject walking along the causeway, early Saturday afternoon.

Jeremy Mohler, who is visiting South Florida for the weekend, said he saw the incident unfold just after 12:30 p.m.

“I heard the gunshot. I was like 10 feet away, I was right there,” he said. “Police SUV kind of following a guy walking down the street, and the man, older gentleman, had a big backpack. He was kind of yelling at the cop.”

Investigators on Sunday said the man had a mental episode at the time and won’t face any charges.

7News sources said the subject did not have a gun but a lighter that looked like a revolver.

As the Miami Beach Police officers followed in the SUV, Mohler said, the situation suddenly became very intense.

“[The officer] jumped out of the car, pulled her gun and ran at him,” said Mohler. “It looked like the cop shot at the person, and it hit the other cop.”

Fellow officers responded shortly after and rendered aid to the injured officer.

“His leg was bleeding out a lot, and they took him off in an ambulance,” said Mohler.

The subject was taken into custody for questioning.

Meanwhile, paramedics rushed the injured officer to Ryder Trauma Center for treatment. Officials said his injury was not life-threatening.

Back at the scene, officers shut down all lanes of traffic on the causeway for several hours.

Police said the man in question was taken to a local medical facility to be evaluated.

The injured officer remains at JMH in good spirits and is expected to be released in the coming days.

Cellphone video captured the dramatic aftermath of an arrest gone wrong, early Saturday afternoon.

“I need a tourniquet!” the injured officer is heard saying.

According to Miami Beach Police, the officers involved were responding to a “be on the lookout” from a neighboring agency of a possibly armed subject walking along the Venetian Causeway.

They may have been pursuing a possibly armed subject, but it was one of the officers who ended up taking a bullet.

Jeremy Mohler, who is visiting South Florida for the weekend, said he saw the incident unfold just after 12:30 p.m.

“I heard the gunshot. I was like 10 feet away, I was right there,” he said. “Police SUV kind of following a guy walking down the street, and the man, older gentleman, had a big backpack. He was kind of yelling at the cop.”

As the Miami Beach Police officers followed in the SUV, Mohler said, the situation suddenly became very intense.

“[The officer] jumped out of the car, pulled her gun and ran at him,” said Mohler. “It looked like the cop shot at the person, and it hit the other cop.”

Fellow officers responded shortly after and rendered aid to the injured officer.

“His leg was bleeding out a lot, and they took him off in an ambulance,” said Mohler.

Paramedics rushed the injured officer to Ryder Trauma Center for treatment. Officials said his injury was not life-threatening.

Back at the scene, the subject was taken into custody for questioning.

Officers shut down all lanes of traffic on the causeway for several hours.

The incident remains under investigation. Police said it had nothing to do with spring break.

The video, which has garnered attention on social media, shows one student crouching inside a trash can while others surrounding him chug large amounts of milk.

They then proceed to spit and vomit onto the student in the trash can, leaving a disgusting mix of milk and vomit running down his back.

Thankfully, it appeared that no one was seriously injured.

In response to the circulating video, the University of Miami issued the following statement to 7News:

“The University of Miami has received multiple reports related to alleged conduct violations by one of our fraternity chapters. We are aware of videos being circulated but can only confirm the authenticity of one video. A full investigation is underway. ”

The unidentified student in the video appears to be unaware of being filmed, surrounded by other fraternity members. The person capturing the footage seems to be located in a nearby apartment rather than within the fraternity.

However, it’s not all fun and games. The incident may have legal consequences beyond university disciplinary actions.

Under the Florida Anti-Hazing Law, also known as the Chad Meredith Act, hazing might be considered a felony if it recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student.

This law was enacted in 2005 following the tragic death of UM student Chad Meredith, who drowned in Lake Osceola after hours of drinking with two Kappa Sigma students.

This alleged hazing incident follows the closure of UM’s Sigma Phi Epsilon chapter in 2022. The closure resulted from a leaked video showing members of the fraternity chanting disturbing remarks about raping and murdering women.

When asked to comment on the alleged hazing, members of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity asked a 7News crew to leave their property. Several of them told 7News reporter Michael Hudak that they had no idea what he was talking about.

Officials received a call about a blaze near Southwest 172nd Avenue, between Southwest 34th and Eighth streets, just before noon on Wednesday.

Multiple Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units were dispatched, including a hazmat team. The affected area is almost impossible for fire crews to reach by ground because of the thick woods around the area and the thickness of the brush fire.

Firefighters say they feel helpless because of the conditions as they battle the fire.

Despite this, they were able to reach about 1,000 feet away from the fire to try to put out the flames.

Florida Forest Service units are trying to fight the blaze through the air. They are calling it the Truck Stop Fire because one of the four corners of the fire has a truck stop called “Truck Wash,” near Southwest 177th Avenue and Eighth Street, and it is the only identifiable area that shows where the fire is.

FFS officials e called air rescue helicopters to survey the area several times throughout the day, but no order was issued to begin dropping buckets of water on the fire as they let the fire burn.

MDFR crews provided the water that FFS then took into the burning woods.

The brush fire is being fueled by the low humidity and dry conditions over the past few days.

The flames have scorched at least 125 acres as of Wednesday night.

7Skyforce captured the smoke as the shrubbery on the land burned in the inferno. Cameras also capturing what appears to be a car completely burned as a result of the fire.

Winds were coming from the southwest on Wednesday, so the smoke from the fire was blowing to the northwest into the Everglades.

Passer-by Derek Carratela, who was riding his motorcycle, told 7News that he rides in the area and has seen fires like this before.

“I live right around here. This usually happens from time to time. Fire rescue can never get to the fire in time,” he said. “It’s usually over there, it’s usually nothing too crazy, but fires have spread. I just saw a helicopter about two hours ago.”

In a statement posted on social media Wednesday night, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said, “MDFR & @FLForestService have been working to contain a grass fire near the 15600 block of SW 31st Lane. Due to smoky conditions, those in the area with respiratory problems are advised to stay indoors, keep windows/doors closed & run your a/c by recirculating the air inside your home.”

While no water was dropped from the air on Wednesday, fire crews tell 7News that their ground operation is working.

As of Thursday morning, the fire was 50% contained.

No neighborhoods or structures have been affected.

Officials said no injuries have been reported.

The uptick, confirmed this weekend by the Florida Department of Health, brings the current total to eight, with the youngest patient being 4 years old or younger, and the oldest is between 10 and 14, officials said.

The latest update comes on the heels of six of those cases confirmed at Manatee Bay Elementary School in Weston, where 200 children were kept out of school last week.

“We’re doing everything possible here at the school, with cleaning and changing air filters,” said Broward County Public School Superintendent Dr. Peter Licata. “We’re keeping parents informed as much as possible.”

Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo said, “When measles is detected in a school, it is normally recommended that individuals without history of prior infection or vaccination stay home for up to 21 days. This is the period of time that the virus can be transmitted.”

And, despite detailing how easily measles spread, Ladapo said, “DOH is deferring to parents or guardians to make decisions about school attendance.”

Health officials say people who have been vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella are 98% protected. Health experts explain that transmission can happen about four days before a rash appears and four days after.

“The hallmark of measles is the rash, though, and that occurs a few days later. The rash is red, dotted rash that starts on the face, around the hairline, behind the ears, and then spreads to the trunk and then to the extremities,” said Dr. Ron Ford, chief medical officer at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. “That’s one of the unique features of the measles rash, is where it starts and the way it spreads.”

Cases aren’t just popping up in South Florida. CDC officials said there are at least 20 measles cases in 11 other states.

It is unclear if the two new measles cases are connected to Manatee Bay Elementary School.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to the scene of a house fire along the 1700 block of Northwest 59th Street in Northwest Miami-Dade, at around 7 a.m., Saturday.

Paramedics transported two people to Ryder Trauma Center. Family members said the youngest victim is 2 years old, and the other is 15.

Cameras captured crews wheeling the victims into the hospital. As of late Saturday night, their conditions are unknown.

North of the county line, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue units arrived at the scene of a blaze at a single-family home along the 1500 block of Northwest 19th Avenue, also on Saturday morning.

Officials said one firefighter was hurt during the firefight and was taken to Broward Health Medical Center to be treated for minor injuries.

Officials with the American Red Cross said they’re helping two people impacted by the fire in Fort Lauderdale.

The causes of both fires remain under investigation.

The incident occurred around 10 a.m. Friday, near Ryder Trauma Center, located in the area of Northwest Eighth Avenue and 17th Street.

When police arrived at the scene, they encountered the suspect armed with a knife.

Cellphone video shared with 7News showed the tense moments between the man and Miami Police officers as they surrounded him, asking the suspect to put the knife down.

One of the residents, Mable, a self-described animal lover, called 7News because she worried about a peacock trap she discovered in front of a neighbor’s house.

Mable recorded cellphone video of a peacock in a trap.

“A peacock trapped in here,” she is heard saying in the video. “We did call the police, we are reporting this.”

Speaking with 7News on Wednesday, Mable said this rough treatment needs to stop.

“I couldn’t sleep last night, and I haven’t been able to sleep since Thursday,” she said.

Mable and several other residents said they’re worried about the birds.

“Last Thursday, I see this hideous trap in front of the neighbors,” said Mable.

Neighbors said the trap has been up since Feb. 1, and since then, two peacocks have been caught. 7News cameras captured one of the rapped peacocks on Wednesday morning.

“Animal abuse is the main concern here, because I understand it’s an overpopulation problem, but this is not the way to do it,” said Mable.

City officials with Coral Gables said they set up the peacock traps as a way to relocate the animals that, they say, are considered an invasive species.

A letter sent to the city by a resident said the peacocks are a nuisance since they shriek loudly at all hours of the night, and they attack the resident’s glass doors.

Another picture obtained by 7News shows about a dozen peacocks assembled on the roof of the person’s home.

One resident who was driving by and saw the trapped bird said he is disgusted with the trap.

“They deserve the same rights we do,” said Richard Cortes.

Another resident, Julie Suarez, said it’s time for the peacocks to be moved.

“Everybody has a right to survive, but not at the cost of something else. They can’t be like crazy. They are scratching cars, they are costing people money, and that’s not right either,” she said.

Still, Mable said, the birds are a part of the city.

“Part of Coral Gables. It’s the colors, it’s the blues, the greens,” she said.

Mable and other residents said there is a better solution for the community’s peacock problem.

“That would be ideal for the peacocks: catch and release, and I’ll do the rescue. I have a lot of people that will volunteer their time to do the rescue,” said Mable. “We’ll take them to be sterilized and bring them back.”

City officials are also pushing back against reports from residents of another peacock that was caught a couple of days ago and had disappeared.

The city said both peacocks that they caught are doing OK, are currently in a facility, and they will be transferred to another area to live.

Late Wednesday afternoon, 7News was still waiting for a response back from city officials about getting access to see the two peacocks.

Florida Highway Patrol and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to the scene of the incident, Sunday night.

According to FHP, a white BMW sedan was traveling in the eastbound lanes of the highway when someone in an unknown vehicle shot at the car, at around 7:15 p.m.

Moments after the gunfire, investigators said, the BMW crashed into a median concrete barrier wall.

First responders arrived to find the driver suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and a passenger suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg.

Paramedics transported the victims to Aventura Hospital, where the driver is listed in critical condition and the passenger is stable.

Alex Bainier, an 18-year-old new driver from Massachusetts, heard and saw the incident Sunday night.

“There needs to be some type of regulation to fix something,” said Bainier.

He said he is concerned about driving on the South Florida streets.

“If someone has road rage, don’t try to fight back with them, I guess, because I’m not trying to get shot,” said Bainier.

Back at the scene, troopers shut down all eastbound lanes and diverted traffic to southbound Interstate 95. The highway has since reopened to traffic.

Authorities have not provided further details about the incident or the subject’s vehicle, as they continue to investigate.

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

There are two words that describes Cassandra Floyd’s current state of mind.

“Very frustrated,” she said.

Speaking with 7News on Sunday, Floyd said she’s frustrated and worried in the wake of Saturday morning’s delivery gone wrong.

“I had to look at it two or three times because I couldn’t believe it,” she said.

The homeowner is still wrapping her head about the notion that this delivery driver could just take off after apparently neglecting to put his van in park.

“I work hard for what we have, and just for a stranger to come and damage your property and not say anything, that’s hurtful,” she said.

Floyd said the crash happened just before 11:15 a.m. on Saturday.

Ring surveillance video captured the driver pulling up and getting out of the vehicle. His vehicle is then seen striking the homeowner’s white Mercedes-Benz.

“If my vehicle wasn’t there, it would have ran into the garage or hit the house or, I mean, a person could have been there,” said Floyd.

The driver is then seen immediately dropping the package he was delivering, getting back into his vehicle, backing away from the driveway and taking off.

Now Floyd is worried she may have to make pricey repairs to her SUV.

“An alignment, the sensors, the camera. I don’t know what damage he’s done,” she said. “I just had my car serviced and everything and reset.”

Floyd said she wants this driver to get caught and fired for what he did.

“I want him to know that he was on Ring, he got caught, and he thought he was getting away,” she said. “Everybody makes mistakes, we’re not perfect, but you intentionally pulled off. You left without even notifying anyone.”

Floyd said she will be taking her car to a mechanic to be checked out.

The fire took place at AQUATEX Commercial Laundry, located at 13063 NW 42nd Ave., after two alarms went off inside the establishment on Wednesday just before midnight. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to the scene and immediately worked the inferno.

Live video footage captured the aftermath of damaged linens, laundry carts, pillow cases and bedding material on Tuesday morning.

Although the structure was significantly damaged, the owner, Andres Matukp, told 7News that he does not believe the building to be a total loss. Matukp said nothing seemed out of the ordinary when he and his wife left their business at 4:30 p.m.

“We don’t know what happened,” he said. “We don’t have total loss. We have to check. My business doesn’t look good. For me, I’m not happy.”

The fire managed to affect not only the laundry business, but also Ozzy’s Cafe, a neighboring business. The cafe was without power and gas as a result of the overnight fire, forcing them to stay closed for a few hours.

The owner of Ozzy’s Cafe said she has $10,000 of meat that cannot be replaced. Fortunately, they were able to regain power to their establishment.

MDFR were back at the scene of the fire as they assessed the damage with the owner on Thursday morning. Matukp stood in his business where he once washed, dried and folded.

“This is the rest of the business,” Matukp said as he showed 7News cameras the damage on the inside.

Despite the damage, a reason to smile as the company cat was found OK. The black work cat was seen eating out of a bowl. Although a bit dirty, the cat’s bowl was now full of food. As its family welcomed the feline companion home, Matukp left asking for one thing: prayers.

Officials said no injuries were reported as a result of this fire. An investigation to find the cause of the flames is underway.

With March on the horizon, Wednesday’s meeting focused on a range of measures ensure safety in Miami Beach. Commissioners discussed several items, including limiting alcohol sales at night during the weekend, a spring break curfew, enforcing traffic infractions and expanding DUI checkpoints.

City officials said turmoil on the streets of South Beach of past years, widely documented by witnesses, has no place in Miami Beach.

Meiner said he is in contact with several law enforcement agencies to help with crowd control during spring break.

“We’re taking proactive measures now to make sure our DUI checks from the beginning, a robust law enforcement presence, including Florida Highway Patrol in addition to Miami Beach Police,” said Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner.

Meiner also spoke about added safety implementations, including new parking rules.

“We’re gonna shut down our parking garages at 6 p.m., we’re gonna raise the parking rates to $100,” he said. “We are going to have some levels of secure perimeters to make sure that guns and weapons cannot get through … We’re going full force to make sure we don’t have the issues that we’ve had in the years past.”

As the commissioner meeting unfolded, leaders came forward with ideas for traffic control, which may include ferry and helicopter services.

“You have thousands of people on the streets. The volume’s too much, so we’re trying to keep it more manageable,” said Meiner.

The focal point for city leaders is to make South Beach safer for both residents and visitors.

Statistics reveal that over the past five years, there have been 22 shootings during spring break in Miami Beach, including three in 2023 and eight in 2022. Commissioners consulted with police chiefs at Wednesday’s meeting to ensure they are taking the proper steps.

“The plan we have in place has been vetted up and down with my senior staff, has been spoken to with the city manager and city senior leaders in the administration,” said Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne Jones, “and we’re very, very comfortable with it and confident that, if implemented the way we would like to implement it, will make a positive difference this year.”

On Tuesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke at the Florida Sheriffs Association Conference, acknowledging the historical challenges faced by Miami Beach during spring break. He expressed support for local authorities and emphasized the need to maintain order during spring break.

“We’ve seen some of the things that have happened in Miami Beach. We have resources available. We want to work proactively with the local jurisdictions,” remarked Gov. DeSantis. “Spring break is what it is, but it should not be impeding the functioning of businesses in the area. It should not be impacting the quality of life of our residents. So, you have our support at the state level to do what you need to do to make sure the quality of life of your residents are maintained and order in the streets is maintained and businesses are able to function appropriately like they should.”

Mitch Novick, who owns the Sherbrooke Hotel on Ninth Street and Collins Avenue, spoke with 7News on the matter Wednesday. The key word for him is “peace.”

Novick said he’s not sure how things will play out, but he hopes it stays as quiet as possible and safe.

“I just hope you don’t have stampedes or shootings like we’ve had in recent years,” he said.

Meiner said he will be going up to Tallahassee to discuss specifics when it comes to numbers of state troopers who will be assisting Miami Beach Police during spring break.

City commissioners are expected to meet at the end of February to finalize details about the safety measures.

According to Miramar Police, they received multiple 911 calls about shots fired in the area of South University Drive and Riviera Boulevard, just after 7:50 p.m., Sunday.

Detectives said the 17-year-old victims were sitting in a white Hyundai Sonata when someone opened fire at the vehicle multiple times, striking the driver and the passenger.

Paramedics rushed both patients to Memorial Regional Hospital, where the male driver succumbed to his injuries and the female passenger is listed in critical condition.

“Right now, it’s really too early to speculate as to the motive behind this. We don’t even know if this was the intended target or not,” said Miramar Police spokesperson Tania Rues. “That’s why it is crucial that someone come forward, someone provides us with information so we can look into this further and apprehend the people that are responsible for this. We’re talking about two 17-year-olds that their lives — one is deceased and the other one, her life will never be the same.”

Officers shut down University Drive in both directions between Miramar Parkway and the Florida Turnpike while they collected evidence and searched for clues.

Police said there is an unknown vehicle in connection to the shooting, adding that a witness possibly saw the car take off toward the Turnpike. They have not provided a description of this vehicle, and no firearms have been recovered.

7News has learned that the teens shot are not part of the Broward County Schools system. Police have not disclosed their identities.

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.

The residence, located in the area of Southwest 156th Street and 73rd Court, was declared a total loss hours after the blaze broke out, late Saturday night.

“At around 11:45 tonight we received a phone call of a vehicle fire, and upon arrival, we saw a fully involved garage that was already venting from the roof,” said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Battalion Christian Chuck. “We had about 13 to 15 units on scene.”

“All of a sudden, I saw the house on fire and, I mean, I was super surprised,” said a neighbor.

“I heard what I thought was fireworks, and my animals were going crazy,” said another neighbor, “and then I thought, ‘OK, they’re shooting off fireworks. Then I looked outside, and I saw, like, what appeared to be flames.”

Members of the Heffernan family, who live at the home, said they were out of town in Orlando at the time.

Sadly, family members said, their two dogs, Loki and Thor, were inside the house and did not survive.

Neighbors came together hours later to help the family of five salvage whatever they could and provide moral support.

“They are just trying to go through the motions of everything, everyday is a new day for them,” said Jennifer Alvarez, a close friend of the family.

Alvarez, who has visited the family daily, said the family is grateful for the support they are receiving.

“During these times, you really see how grateful humanity is, plus, trying to get them back on their feet, like try to have some type of normalcy,” she said.

The Heffernans said they will be staying with in-laws for the time being.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Neighbors have set up a GoFundMe page to help the family. If you would like to make a donation, click here.

7News cameras on Saturday captured friends of the victim as they placed flowers, purple balloons and a stuffed animal on the victim’s car. One woman was seen breaking down in tears.

Mourners also placed a picture of the victim on the windshield of the vehicle. They identified her for 22-year-old Regina Vidal.

Friends said they has just been with Vidal on Friday night for a reunion.

According to Lauderhill Police, the shots rang out just before 6 a.m. on Saturday at the Newport at Lauderhill apartment complex in the area of Northwest 46th Avenue and 21st Street.

Responding officers arrived to find the victim inside an apartment suffering from a gunshot wound. Friends said that’s were Vidal lived.

Lauderhill Fire Rescue units arrived and pronounced her dead.

Officers, meanwhile, cordoned off the area with crime scene tape and investigated for several hours.

The motive behind the shooting remains unknown, and there are no known suspects at this time, as the investigation continues.

If you have any information on this shooting or the gunman’s whereabouts, call Lauderhill Police at 954-497-4700 or 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.

New pictures show the moments after the child was brought into this world in dramatic fashion, Wednesday afternoon.

“We’re happy. It’s a healthy baby girl,” said Cherley Zamor, the woman’s cousin.

The baby was born under an I-95 overpass at Northwest 135th Street in North Miami — inside the Lyft ride.

“She said, ‘Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!'” said Inocles Trazial, the Lyft driver.

Trazial said he pulled over with the expecting mother in the backseat of his SUV.

“The towel in my car, I give to her,” he said.

Following behind them was Zamor, who said her cousin called her to tell her that she was going into labor.

Zamor said she helped deliver the baby.

“I told her to push. That’s the only thing I could do, ’cause the head was already out,” she said, “so she pushed, the baby came out, I picked her up, tapped her on the butt. I heard she cried, wrapped her in the towel and waited for the cops.”

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units arrived shortly after and whisked mother and child to Jackson North Medical Center in North Miami Beach. The baby weighed in at around 7 pounds.

On Thursday, officials with Lyft weighed in on the momentous occasion. In a social media post, they wrote, “Happy Birthday to the baby who was born in a Lyft this week!”

The post goes on to recount the story. It reads in part, “When the driver realized they wouldn’t make it to the hospital in time, he pulled over. ‘[Our driver] was very helpful!’ the mother’s cousin told a local news source. ‘We’re very thankful for him.'”

The rideshare company promised to compensate the driver, stating, “We’re also giving the rider’s family an extremely pink gift basket and a $1,000 Lyft gift card.”

The post goes on to say, “Welcome to our newest rider!” and “Nothing wrong with showing up a few minutes early.”

When asked whether anybody had ever delivered a baby in his vehicle while working for Lyft, Trazial replied, “It’s the first time.”

The baby’s family remains very grateful to the driver,

“He was very helpful. We’re thankful for him,” she said. “Lyft should tip him and reward him.”

Lyft officials said they will be gifting Trazial a $1,000 bonus for exceptional customer service, and they will also pay to have his SUV cleaned up.

The Hialeah City Council voted on Wednesday to amend an existing ordinance, after officials met to discuss concerns of recreational vehicles being used for living accommodations and the amount of RVs and boats a homeowner can have on their properties.

After a public hearing, the council voted in favor of limiting the amount of boats and RVs a person can have.

The new law would allow only one RV and one boat on a homeowner’s land. Homeowners will not be allowed to park the RVs in the backyards.

Council members are giving residents 60 days to comply with the new ordinance, which is set to be signed into law within the next few days.

City leaders called this a victory for public safety and quality of life for longtime residents.

“We applaud those that have their RVs and go and travel the United States. It’s part of the American dream. Roam and go and visit different places,” said Hialeah Mayor Esteban Bovo, “but what you can’t do, as it’s already been stated, is use them as an illegal way of subsidizing your income.”

Homeowners who do not make the accommodations will be fined $500 each day they are in violation. Water and electric services will also be cut from the property if residents do not comply with the ordinance.

City leaders are set to hold another meeting in an attempt to figure out how to deal with affordable housing and workforce housing.

According to Florida City Police, the incident occurred in the area of Northwest 10th Street and Fifth Avenue in Florida City, Wednesday afternoon.

The victim suffered severe injuries to his arm and was airlifted to Jackson South Trauma by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.

Animal control is on the scene, and the dogs have been secured, including one identified as a pit bull.

Animals services said that at least one dog was taken away. It is unclear what will happen to the dog.

Video captured by 7News shows the victim’s wheelchair with blood staining the ground.

It is unclear who the dog’s owner is. Neighbor reacted to the news after seeing the aftermath of the incident.

“Dog right there. The dog was a runaway dog, the victim got bit around the corner when I came down here and seen all that was happening,” said Bernard Mcintire.

“I heard sirens and I thought it was a wreck. When I looked, he was laying on the ground, arm was hanging like this” said Ms. Jones. “The dog was full of blood, he was full of blood.”

“Man, I don’t like pit bulls, period. I don’t care for dogs that much,” said Jones.

No other injuries have been reported.

As of Wednesday evening, it’s unclear what will happen to the dogs.

The Miami-Dade County Animal Services released the following statement on Thursday:

Miami-Dade County Animal Services responded to a request for police assistance regard a dog bite incident at 521 Northwest 11th street in Florida City. Initial reports indicate that the victim was passing by the property in his wheelchair when two dogs escaped the gate properly and attacked him. The victim was airlifted to Jackson south.

Miami-Dade County Animal Services

Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.

The crash happened on the 1200 block of North Krome Avenue, Tuesday night.

Detectives said officers were at a Super 8 motel responding to a robbery call when the crash took place.

The suspect, identified as Giovanni Mendez-Simon, was arrested shortly after the incident. The 19-year-old faces a long list of charges, including driving under the influence, two counts of damage to property or person and not having a valid driver’s license.

According to officials, Mendez-Simon, who appeared to be under the influence, struck the officer’s vehicle head-on as the suspected drunk driver headed southbound on the street. The sergeant was reportedly sitting in his squad car on the side of the road at the time of the collision.

Two other officers, who were also on the scene for the robbery call, jumped out of the way for their own safety as the car crashed into the police cruiser.

7News cameras were at the crash site moments after it happened.

Paramedics with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue airlifted the sergeant to Jackson South Medical Center for treatment.

Miami-Dade Police’s DUI squad and Homestead Police units also responded at the scene to assist in the investigation.

Mendez-Simon’s bond was set at $3,100. He has since bonded out.

Mendez-Simon commented on the incident in Spanish after he walked out of jail, Wednesday evening.

“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.”

The officer was released from the hospital Wednesday morning and is at home recovering from his injuries.

According to Plantation Police, the teen died at the hospital after paramedics rushed him there in critical condition, Saturday night.

Delvin King, the principal at Youth Under Construction, a school in Pompano Beach, identified the victim as Terrance Farrington an 11th grade student at the school who was also in the football team.

“Terrance was a student full of life and love. He was one of the star players on my football team,” said King. “Today, I just went and looked at his seat today, and I said, ‘Wow, that seat right there, that seat’s going to be empty for a while.”

A chair was decorated at the school in his memory on Monday.

Detectives said Farrington was shot after he and three others were walking out of the Best Buy in the area of West Sunrise Boulevard and North Flamingo Road, just after 8 p.m.

Police said two people walked up to the group and started to shoot, striking Farrington, another member of his group and two innocent bystanders, one of whom was inside the store.

Paramedics transported all four victims to an area hospital, where Farrington succumbed to his injuries hours later.

King described Farrington as an accomplished running back who was energetic on and off the field.

“The thing that we’ll most remember is his laughter, him dancing,” said King. “Every time, he got to get in TikTok and dance.”

As of Sunday night, it remains unclear why the group was targeted, and detectives said the two subjects remain on the run.

A teenager gone far too soon. Family and friends left to wonder why.

“The parents cry out, it’s that if anyone knows anything to come forward, ’cause the gun violence in this community, it has to stop,” said King.

A memorial for Farrington will be held at the school, located at 1350 S. Dixie Highway in East Pompano Beach, beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday. It will be followed by a balloon release service at Mitchell Moore Park, located at 901 NW 10th St. in Pompano Beach, beginning at 11 a.m.

If you have any information on this shooting or the subjects’ 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.

7News cameras captured multiple police cruisers and crime scene tape outside the large retailer, located along Sunrise Boulevard and North Flamingo Road, Saturday night.

According to Plantation Police, a group of four people were exiting the store when they got into a confrontation with two people who were apparently waiting for them.

Detectives said the group of two opened fire on the group of four, striking two of them. Two innocent bystanders, one inside the building and another who was outside, were hit by the gunfire.

Pictures shared on social media captured paramedics tending to a woman with a bloody leg and a man being taken away on a stretcher.

Paramedics transported all four injured people to an area hospital for treatment.

Police said some of the rounds shattered the front window of the store. Cameras also showed a white SUV with bullet holes in the passenger side window and two others above the front passenger side side, near the hood of the vehicle.

Detectives said those who opened fire remain at large, as they attempt to determine what led the incident.

If you have any information on this shooting or the subjects’ 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.