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.

The incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. near the intersection of 204th Street and Northwest 55th Court.

Around 5:30 a.m. several fire trucks were seen picking up their equipment once the fire was extinguished.

Juniel Alcazapal said he didn’t know what happened, but as soon as he saw the fire, he started running.

He was inside sleeping when the fire broke out next door.

Residents have reported that the fire also impacted a neighboring house. Video footage showed damage to a blue house next to the house that caught fire.

“Somebody start to scream, ‘The fire, the fire,’ to get out and I saw the fire, and I tried to do what I did until the fire department came,” said Nelson, a neighbor.

Nelson owns the blue home next door and said the flames started in a shed in the middle of two homes, which caught the neighboring house on fire too.

It is unclear how many people occupied the house but officials said four people suffered minor burns—no one wanted to be transported to the hospital.

“They initiated a rapid fire tact, primary search, made sure everybody was out of the structure and quickly put the fire under control,” said MDFR Battalion Chief Armando Pesaturo.

Though the fire didn’t start on Nelson’s property, it certainly caused thousands of dollars in damages.

The American Red Cross was called to the scene and will assist the residents affected by the fire.

Bags of equipment carrying life-saving gear, for men and women who are on the front line, were received as former Miami-Dade commissioner Sally Heyman returns from Israel. She was joined by public safety and corrections officials and the Deputy Consul General Mike Driquez of Israel to discuss and demonstrate how this “Protective Enhancement Gear” works.

“This gear is lightweight, it’s very flexible. It protects the officers from punctures and stabbing,” said Miami-Dade Police Department Assistant Director Christopher Carothers.

The county spent roughly $69,000 on 102 sets of custom-made gear that will be used for riots and SWAT teams to help protect officers and even corrections deputies in jails.

“We are the first in then nation to get this import from Israel,” stated Heyman. “As a commissioner, I participated in two trips to Israel targeting Israeli innovations.”

The innovative protective equipment coming from a former commissioners trip to Israel to see what they could learn and bring back to the U.S.

“This day is really one of the most innovative countries in the world,” said Driquez. “I came from tech before. It comes from a place of which we can cherish a very good relationship between the states, especially since October 7.”

Ramon Hernandez with Miami-Dade’s Rapid Deployment Force explained how this is different from what he’s used to.

“What we usually have is just our vest, we have a helmet, we have a shield and we have our gun belts” he said. “This is a little more light weight, of course.”

“It also has capabilities of energy dispersions. That means if our officers were to receive any blood-force trauma while wearing the suit, it provides better protection to vital organs and different parts of the body,” said one officer.

Out of the 100 sets of gear the county received, 80 of them will go to the Miami-Dade Police Department while the others will be distributed to agencies like the City of Miami and Coral Gables police departments.

This new equipment will benefit the safety of the public and law enforcement when officers respond to calls.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But Castellanos would not survive.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Florida International University

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yaniris and Milan are married with two sons.

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

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

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

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

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

The incident, which occurred near the New River around 4:30 p.m. Thursday, also led to the damage of a Tesla SUV and a minivan after debris fell onto the bridge, creating a significant hole on the road that led to the closure of the bridge. Initially, the collapse raised concerns about the bridge’s structural integrity.

“When the piece of crane fell through, it punctured directly through the entire concrete deck and broke through the steel,” said Anh Ton, Broward County Director of Highway and Bridge Maintenance.

While workers focused on the significant hole left by the crane, officials said the drawbridge stayed aligned.

“If alignment is off by half an inch, it wouldn’t work. Fortunately, when we tested the bridge last night, the alignment was still in place,” said Ton.

The bridge, owned by Broward County, had repairs done to it overnight but officials said they are temporary. Crews are set to eventually close down the bridge again for more in-depth repair work, which they said, will occur during overnight hours to minimize disruptions.

“Unfortunately it’s downtown Fort Lauderdale, so that is the sense of urgency, to make sure the bridge is functional,” said Ton.

Officials said it will take four weeks to design the permanent fix and then another couple months to install it.

But for now, Broward County’s structural engineers, who spent most of Thursday night on the bridge, said it is safe for travel.

“I drove through it myself multiple times and I wouldn’t do that unless I felt it was completely safe,” said Ton.

7Skyforce was overhead Friday morning where a steel plate was seen covering the hole made by the collapse. Traffic was moving along the road as investigators gathered at the high-rise under construction where the crane was being used.

“We had a one-inch steel plate that was large. We put it on top of where that hole was, that way when the vehicles go over, it serves as temporary deck to split the load out,” said Ton.

According to fire rescue officials, a man and woman were transported to Broward Health Medical Center in stable condition. Both victims were released from the hospital on Friday morning.

The construction worker killed in this incident fell with one of the loads off the side of the building and succumbed to their injuries, police said. The identity of the deceased worker has not been released.

Mark Cerezin, the Tesla driver, recalled the moments when he narrowly avoided the piece of the crane, crediting the vehicle’s design to his survival.

“It was just an instinct. It was just a reaction, peripheral reaction, slamming on the brakes,” said Cerezin. “I have a Tesla, it’s all glass on top, so I saw here coming down, and that’s when I gauged, I guess, by a split second. Had I not slammed as hard as I had with my foot, I’m not here speaking to you.”

Cerezin did not need to be taken to the hospital but his Tesla was damaged, saying the front of his car didn’t appear to be there.

“I hit the front of my car. It was like slow motion. And then I just saw the front of my car just disappeared. It just, like, sliced it,” he recounted. “Then that piece of metal bounced in the air and then went to the right and landed on another car.”

Experts said that had the Tesla not taken the brunt of the impact, the bridge would’ve been damaged far worse.

After speaking to the crane operator, fire officials said the crane fell in the process of being adjusted.

“It is my understanding from the construction company that they were doing a process at the time called stepping the crane. It was not the crane that failed; it was a platform that they had equipment staged on that had failed at the time of the incident,” said Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Chief Stephen Gollan.

Witnesses and local residents described the chaos and their shock.

Jason Taub, who was working from his apartment, said he had been watching the crane for about 20 minutes and started to record the crane being hoisted up on his phone, but as soon as he stopped, he heard a strange sound.

“All of a sudden I hear a pop,” said Taub. “And then I see the piece tumbling and tumbling down.”

“It looked like it was falling in slow motion and I screamed ‘Oh, my God’, and I see it fall right on top of the car,” said a woman who lives on the ninth floor of the building in front of the construction site. “Right away, you can see the driver walk away, but you can hear her screaming, but it was so scary to witness.”

Video obtained by 7News shows Cerezin comforting the woman who was driving the minivan, who is seen visibly distraught.

Cerezin said he took off his shirt to help the woman. He is in disbelief that he hit the brakes just seconds before the crane fell down.

“There was a lady that was bleeding, and I took off my shirt and put compression and helped her,” he said.

Cerezin said he feels grateful and lucky to be alive.

“From, of course, this day forward, I’m just happy to go home to my wife. I’m happy to go home to my family and to my friends. I’m just so grateful,” he said.

On Friday, the 911 calls were released showing distressed drivers watching the incident unfold.

“A crane just broke down on a car on the bridge,” said one caller. “Oh my God, I can’t believe what I just saw.”

Fire rescue officials have since secured the crane and the area has been cleared of debris and damaged vehicles as investigations by several agencies, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, and the Florida Department of Transportation, continue.

The closure of bridge caused significant traffic and stopped marine traffic along the New River, but since it’s reopening, all traffic has returned to normal.

KAST Construction, the company working on the high-rise where the crane was being used, has been contacted for comment on this incident.

Miami-Dade Police and Fire Rescue responded to the scene of the crash in the area of Coral Way and Southwest 117th Avenue around 7:45 p.m., Wednesday.

“Ladder 29 responding Coral Way, Southwest 117th Avenue, reference a vehicle in the canal,” a dispatcher said in radio transmissions.

According to MDPD, everyone inside the four-door Lexus that went into Snapper Creek got out.

“We do have a vehicle in the canal. Reportedly everyone is out of the vehicle,” said the dispatcher.

The occupants of the car, who are 18 and 19 years old, said the other car made a U-turn in front of them while they were driving southbound. They swerved their car to get out of the way and went into the canal.

One of the occupants, Eric Hernandez, spoke with 7News.

“I’m safe and alive,” he said.

Hernandez said he and his friend were returning home from getting some food and were heading southbound when the crash occurred.

“We tried, like, swerve and brake, but we couldn’t, and since he was making a U-turn, we, like, it made us go to the rail, and it broke, and we went to the water,” he said.

The teen explained how he and his friend escaped the sinking vehicle.

“In the water, all the glass started, like, cracking, and we tried opening the door, and the door didn’t open, so we went out through the sunroof,” said Hernandez.

7News cameras captured the damaged car along the canal and some damage to the guardrail. The two teens were seen wrapped in aluminum blankets.

“[The car] floated all the way down this way, due to the wind — as you can see, how it’s really windy — and it finally sank over here,” said Ivan Grau of Sunshine Towing.

After escaping, the boys swam to the shore, where Grau helped them out, and they were able to call their parents.

7News cameras captured the teens as they tried to salvage belongings in the car.

Southwest 117th Avenue was temporarily shut down near the scene of the crash, but it has since reopened to traffic.

It remains unclear whether or not the driver of the other car will be cited.

The incident occurred early Wednesday morning near Strike 10 Bowling, located near the corner of Derby Lane and Silks Run.

“Caller advising her friend just got shot. Line disconnected,” said a dispatcher over Broadcastify police scanner. “She’s advising she shot her boyfriend.”

7News cameras captured crime scene tape and markers on the ground after officers responded to shots fired overnight.

According to Hallandale Police, the victim, a 37-year-old transgender male, was transported to Aventura Hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

“We’ve started CPR,” said a first responder over Broadcastify police scanner.

Dozens of investigators were at the scene taking photos of the scene and collecting evidence. A sports car and an SUV were also towed away from the scene at around 4 a.m.

Police said that the shooting was an isolated incident between two people who knew each other. Currently, police do not have a suspect in custody, but they are searching for a woman who pulled the trigger.

They are not considering the gender of the victim as a motive for the shooting.

If you have any information on this shooting or the subject’s whereabouts, call Hallandale Beach Police at 954-457-1400 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But Cabrera said they were aware that he was ill.

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

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

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

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

The incident occurred at the Holiday Inn Express located at 1500 SE 17th St. Cswy., March 21.

According to preliminary investigations, Fort Lauderdale Police received a 911 text at approximately 7:39 a.m. from a man in a hotel room.

“Go ahead, 10-4 referencing to the 13 (suspicious) incident. Caller stating he has guns and will start shooting at whoever is at his front door,” a dispatcher said in radio transmissions.

The suspect, later identified as 44-year-old Karl Chludinsky, also alleged that his wife had been sexually assaulted and threatened to harm anyone who approached his room.

The bodycam footage shows the moment responding officers attempted to make contact with Chludinsky.

“It’s the police. Come out, come out with your hands up!” said FLPD Officer Jack DiCristofalo.

Chludinsky, a Margate resident, claiming he had killed someone in the room, but he was actually alone inside.

“Hands up, Hands up! Let me see your hands! Let me see your hands! Let me see your hands!” said DiCristofalo.

When he opened the door, officers noticed he was holding a gun and opened fire.

“Gun, gun, gun!” said DiCristofalo after officers discharged their firearms.

Investigators said Chludinsky fired back at the officers through the hotel room door.

Multiple shots were fired again. During the gunfire, DiCristofalo was struck.

“Hey, I’m hit. I’m hit pretty good,” DiCristofalo said.

A picture showed the suspect’s bullet lodged in DiCristofalo’s vest, likely saving his life.

FLPD said that upon entry, Chludinsky was found dead. Police said that no other individuals were present in the room at the time.

The harrowing shootout happened as spring breakers converged in Fort Lauderdale. It snarled traffic on the 17th Street Causeway for hours.

DiCristofalo suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to Broward Health Medical Center with injuries that were serious but not life-threatening. He was released the same day.

FLPD Officer Pascal France suffered minor injuries unrelated to gunfire and was treated at the scene.

DiCristofalo, France and FLPD Officer Jose Lopez were placed on administrative leave with pay pending investigations by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and an internal review, as per department policy.

The 26-word amendment, “No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider,” could reshape Florida’s abortin landscape if approved by voters in November.

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

Advocates argue that these words are crystal clear and offer necessary protection for reproductive rights within the state. However, proponents like Republican State Attorney General Ashley Moody and pro-life activists say the amendment is vague and expansive.

“There is nothing misleading. Opponents have identified nothing misleading,” said Moody.

They contend that the wording violates the single-subject rule and could have far-reaching consequences, effectively rolling back existing restrictions on abortions in Florida.

“This amendment should not be approved because it violates the single-subject rule,” argued Mat Staver. “Four words doom it—’no law shall restrict.’ That is breathtakingly broad.”

If passed, the measure would extend the timeframe for legal abortions in Florida from 15 weeks to approximately 24 weeks, aligning with the point of fetal viability outside the womb. Additionally, it would block a stricter 6-week ban that has yet to be implemented.

Following oral arguments in February, during which the justices raised probing questions, both sides are anxiously awaiting the court’s decision. With five of the justices appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis, the outcome remains uncertain.

“If you’re right and that’s clear on the face of the proposal, what are we to do about it?” asked John Daniel Couriel, Justice of the Florida Supreme Court.

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

“People of Florida aren’t stupid,” said Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz. “They can figure this out.”

Activists on both sides are now left eagerly awaiting the court’s ruling to discern whether Florida voters will have the opportunity to weigh in on the matter.

“Those who want unrestricted abortion want to eliminate one side of the debate,” said one protester.

“This amendment literally throws women into the back alleys of abortion because it de-regulates abortion,” said Staver during a protest.

The Florida Supreme Court said they will have their decision before April 1.

Miami Police officers swarmed the hotel on Northeast 16th Street and Biscayne Boulevard, Wednesday morning.

According to investigators, the 15-year-old was shot in the arm after a fight broke out in the hotel’s lobby.

The victim is now in stable condition.

Video footage captured the aftermath of the incident, showing people on the ground in handcuffs as Miami Gardens Police and Florida Highway Patrol vehicles with flashing lights that illuminated the scene.

The crashed car occurred at the intersection of Northwest 167th Street and Northwest 25th Court around 11 p.m. Monday.

The speeding driver lost control of the vehicle, hit the fence and hammered straight through it and into a tree on the other side. Pablo Hernandez, the homeowner of the damaged home, said it sounded like a bomb went off when the car came crashing into his fence.

He said when he opened his door he saw the mangled mess, the dozens of cop cars and the disaster in his front yard.

Miami Gardens Police confirmed that four people were taken into custody regarding the incident. According to Hernandez, they were chased because they allegedly stole the car.

As the car was towed away from the scene, the car was seen with heavy front-end damage.

On Tuesday morning, 7News cameras captured the path of destruction as pieces of the fence and tree limbs were all over the ground. Hernandez looked around at the destruction and tried to fix what he could, but he was in good spirits.

“The material things like the fence can be replaced, but lives cannot,” he said in Spanish.

Sunrise Airlines announced new direct flights to Miami International Airport from Cap-Haïtien, a port city on the north coast. The first two of these direct flights are scheduled to land at MIA on Monday.

More than 30,000 people have fled the country, according to a report from the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration.

The flights come as gangs in Haiti continue to terrorize people and attack police stations and other government facilities in the country’s capital of Port-au-Prince, where they’ve seized control of the airport.

“The country is at a place where it’s never been before, and we need to start from scratch,” said Dochenet Vatel with the Haitian Youth and Community Center of Florida.

Scores of people have been killed, and tens of thousands have been left homeless since the gang attacks began on Feb. 29.

These groups also stormed Haiti’s two biggest prisons and released more than 4,000 inmates.

This past Thursday, a U.S. government-chartered flight evacuated more than 80 U.S. citizens and brought them to MIA.

“I’m relieved,” said a passenger.

“I’m doing OK. The situation is very bad,” said passenger Gastan Desuere.

The state of Florida, the U.S. State Department, and private citizens are working to ensure those Americans who want to leave Haiti can safely do so.

Some Haitian Americans said they hoped the U.S. would intervene in the conflict.

“Haiti needs a good government,” said passenger Wilson Joseph. “I’d like for the United States to go to Haiti to help this country.”

The Sunrise Airlines flights are scheduled to touch down at MIA at 11:40 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. on Monday.

Speaking with 7News on Thursday, the concerned parent said she wants the people running Little Dolphins Daycare 2 to answer a simple question: “What happened to my son?”

The mother, who asked not to be identified or show her face on camera, became upset when she saw the wound on her 8-month-old son’s middle finger.

“His hand is swollen, it’s blistered up. I mean, come on,” she said.

The parent said she noticed the circular wound on Wednesday after she picked him up from day care.

“This was something serious,” she said.

To her, the injury resembles a burn from a cigarette, adding that a pediatrician agrees.

“[The doctor] said, ‘Oh, my God, it’s a burn, but it looks like a cigarette burn,'” she said. “It’s not a scratch, it’s a burn, and my son can’t state what happened.”

7News caught up with the mother and baby after a long day for the family.

The infant’s mother said she was twice at Little Dolphins Daycare 2 on Thursday, first to withdraw her son from the center, then to file a complaint with Miami-Dade Police.

The mother said she drove to Opa-locka to leave a formal statement with the Florida Department of Children And Families.

“What is it that caused this burn and you guys aren’t giving me an explanation?” she said.

7News spoke to the day care’s owner, Giselle Castillo. While she wouldn’t do an on-camera interview, she vehemently denied the child was injured at her facility, insisting it happened elsewhere.

Castillo said she spoke to MDPD and has security video. However, she couldn’t show it to 7News, because she wanted to let the police and DCF investigations conclude.

When asked whether her son’s injury could have come at home, his mother replied, “No, definitely not.”

The mother said she spoke with members of DCF well after business hours. MDPD and DCF officials are expected to provide further details on Friday.

Miami-Dade Police and Fire Rescue units responded to the area of Northwest 24th Avenue and 50th Street, Wednesday night.

“Person shot, Northwest 50th Street and 24th Avenue,” a dispatcher is heard saying in radio transmissions.

The shots rang out near Brownsville Middle School and Marva Y. Bannerman Park.

According to police, the subject fled in his dark-colored Nissan after committing a traffic infraction on Wednesday evening. Once units located the vehicle, the subject hit a parked vehicle on 50th Street with his car.

Detectives said the subject exited the Nissan armed and began running across a park on 50th Street where children were playing.

“At the end of the day, you have an individual that’s fleeing from officers with a firearm in their hand,” said Miami-Dade Police Detective Alvaro Zabaleta. “You don’t know what that person’s intentions are at the time.”

Video that has circulated on social media shows the moment shots were fired. Police are heard screaming at the man to drop the gun as he is seen running.

Seconds later, multiple shots are heard, even after the man hits the ground. Eventually, the injured man sits back up and falls to one side.

At one point in the video, after the gunfire ends, the man raises his arms in the air.

“You of course see him running through a park, where you’re visually seeing children playing,” said Zabaleta. “That’s something that clearly is a concern.”

Another video shows people who were playing basketball in the park running as gunshots are heard.

“Yo!” one person said on the video. “They still shooting.”

As detectives combed the scene, they said, the gun was recovered.

Neighbors were left terrified.

“It was a guy with, like, a black shirt, black pants running,” said one woman who did not want to identify herself. “Next thing we heard, we heard gunshots, like multiple gunshots. We actually dropped down to the floor.”

Witness Ronald Johnson told 7News that officers told him to get out of the area as shots rang out.

“You sound a little shaken up. Is it like nerve-wracking?” asked 7News reporter Joe Roetz.

“Yes, of course. I thought they were coming after me. I was like, ‘What did I do wrong?’ said Johnson. “They come out in full force, like army, like a hit squad almost, unfortunately. But I guess they are doing their job.”

Johnson said he was heading to a meeting at the Circle of Brotherhood, a group that tries to combat violence among Black men.

“All the other police surround me as if I did something wrong,” explained Johnson. “Then they just had to move their cars around the block.”

Another witness described what she saw.

“I saw two boys ran by, and then, after that, that’s when I heard the gunshots,” said a woman. “Like, what if a child would have gotten hit?”

Paramedics transported the man who came under fire to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center. As of Thursday afternoon, he is listed in critical condition.

It is unclear whether or not police will charge the subject.

Neither the subject nor the officer has been identified.

The incident occurred Tuesday afternoon at the Neiman Marcus Last Call inside the shopping center, located at 12801 W Sunrise Blvd. in Sunrise.

According to Sunrise Police, the subjects went inside the store, looked around, came up to a case that had expensive purses, broke the glass case, took the purses and ran out of the store.

Investigators said the subjects, who covered their faces, fled in an unknown vehicle after the robbery.

The Sunrise Fire Department responded to the mall to treat the employee hit with the pepper spray.

7News cameras shows the security gates of the store were activated, closing the store for the day following the robbery.

Police are now looking at surveillance video from around the mall.

Further details regarding the suspects’ descriptions and the vehicle are currently unknown as the investigation continues.

Employees and customers described how the incident played out.

“An alarm went off. People coming out coughing, saying there is like a weird smell, and then later on a lady said, ‘You’re right. That was mace’,” said Adi Alic, a security guard.

A couple and their children who are visiting the area from Kentucky said they were turned away when they tried entering the store.

“Employees sent home. Nobody can go in there. I just think that’s absolutely crazy. This is the first I’ve ever heard of it,” said Kimber Rednour.

The family said that Neiman Marcus is their favorite store, and they’ll have to come back tomorrow.

“Cops was zooming up and down,” said Larry Wilson. “Every day that, bad people.”

Detectives said the stolen purses have an estimated value of $12,000.

Alic said bold incidents like these are a concern for him.

“I don’t like seeing that kind of stuff. It just worries me, you know?” said Alic.

No injuries were reported. Sunrise Police said they don’t know what the subjects look like.

If you have any information on this robbery 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.

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.

The curfew, which will be implemented on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, will last from 11:59 p.m. until 6 a.m. the following morning.

“In consultation with our public safety leadership, we have determined that a midnight curfew is necessary and appropriate to assist in maintaining public safety on this spring break weekend,” said Miami Beach City Manager Alina Hudak.

7News cameras captured visitors who descended on the city’s entertainment district, Friday afternoon.

“I’m down here to have fun, party,” said a man.

“I kind of expected the worst,” said a woman.

Pezzy Jones and Marion Smith, who are visiting from Houston, said the curfew will not disrupt their plans.

“I’m still going to go out and do my thing, you know?” said Jones.

“I mean, nobody is really going to listen to it,” said Smith.

“I feel it’s pointless. Like, just let people have fun,” said another visitor.

After the sun went down, 7News cameras captured large crowds walking down Ocean Drive.

News of the curfew came as a surprise to visitor Dakota Whims.

“No, I didn’t know there was a curfew,” she said.

A spring breaker who identified himself as August pointed out the heavy police presence, hours before officers were scheduled to clear everyone out.

“As y’all see, the police is pretty much out on almost every single block, every street,” he said.

The curfew will be imposed within the area of 23rd Street and Dade Boulevard on the north, Government Cut on the south, Biscayne Bay on the west, and the Atlantic Ocean on the east, requires businesses to close in advance to ensure compliance.

Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner said the curfew is a necessary step.

“As we started seeing the data we’ve looked at in the last several years of this weekend, the third weekend in March, the intel that we had, we made a determination for public safety,” he said.

Public safety officers will patrol the area to enforce the curfew.

Additionally, a Special Event Zone, effective from 8 p.m. on Friday until 7 a.m. on Monday, has been designated from 17th Street down to South Pointe Park, including Ocean Drive, Collins Avenue, Washington Avenue, and adjacent streets.

Within this zone, fines for noncriminal traffic infractions may be doubled, and vehicles can be impounded for violations.

Businesses will be allowed to continue operations from 11:59 p.m. to 6 a.m. for delivery services only.

All city residents requiring access to or from their homes, guests requiring access to or from their hotels, and employees of business establishments requiring access, including business deliveries, are permitted.

The sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption will be prohibited in the curfew area after 6 p.m. each day.

Visitors said this particular rule is noticeable.

“I don’t see the drunk people, so I don’t know,” said a visitor near Ocean Drive.

The decision to implement the curfew comes after recent years of chaos and violence.

The City Commission passed a resolution last year endorsing the curfew, aiming to mitigate disturbance and violence typically seen during Spring Break weekends.

“We did not make this decision lightly, but it should not come as a surprise,” said Hudak. “We have been very clear about our intent to protect the public from the dangerous mayhem that has accompanied Spring Break crowds in recent years.”

Businesses were previously warned to expect curfews during this period, but business owners who spoke to 7News on Friday said they’re taking a hit this month.

“Unfortunately, there could likely be many businesses closing,” said Mitch Novick, the owner of the Sherbrooke Hotel.

“No parking, parking $100. It’s crazy, even for local people, to go out to Miami Beach,” said Marco Perez, a manager at Eye Opticals.

“The employees, how are they gonna eat? How are they going to pay rent?” said Luis Contres, the owner of Cafe Bonjour.

Even the popular Mango’s Tropical Cafe on Ocean Drive is shutting its doors for the weekend.

Speaking with 7News on Friday night, Mango’s CEO David Wallack said safety is their top priority.

“There’s a lot of people, and it’s all pretty much pushed to the west sidewalk, and being that Mango’s has a very open front, last year I was in 16 stampedes,” he said. “The cash register is not the important thing; it’s the safety first.”

For more information on Miami Beach’s spring break safety measures, including the curfew, click here.

Audio obtained by The Miami Herald appeared to show Key Biscayne Police Detective Fernando Carvajal insulting the mother of an alleged child molestation victim.

“She’s a scumbag. She actually screwed up the first [inaudible] case,” Carvajal is heard saying.

According to the Herald, the recording was taken about a month ago when Carvajal was conducting a formal interview on his cellphone.

The detective was investigating allegations against gymnastics coach Oscar Olea, who is accused of sexually assaulting minors he was instructing.

Adriana Alcalde, a former Broward County prosecutor, told 7News on Wednesday that comments like this could hurt the case against 38-year-old Olea.

“Calling her a scumbag, it’s just uncalled for. There’s no need for him to say that, there’s no need for him to comment like that,” she said.

Alcalde said that Carvajal’s comment may give the gymnastics instructor’s defense a leg up.

“They are going to question [Carvajal], why is he questioning the mother’s credibility?” she said. “It seems like he’s thrown a monkey wrench into this entire case, which seems to be a pretty solid case.”

Carvajal was on the stand days ago, providing insight into the case.

Key Biscayne’s police officer is now on the defense. The department’s chief, Frank J. Sousa, acknowledged the recording. In a statement, he wrote:

We have taken immediate action and began an administrative review, which is underway. The comments made do not reflect the values and hard work of the Key Biscayne Police Department.

When it comes to Carvajal, Sousa wrote:

Detective Carvajal immediately addressed this with me and was contrite, remorseful, and embarrassed.

The words nevertheless still sting in a serious situation.

Olea is due in court next Wednesday to face a judge for his arraignment.

The bad bite sent Rodrigo Constain, a husband, father and grandfather, to the hospital where he is recovering at Jackson South Medical Center.

“Right now I feel good because I’m alive,” said Constain.

The incident happened on Sunday at the Flamingo Marina in Everglades National Park.

According to the National Park Service, Constain reportedly capsized his boat while he was in the marina basin after being out in the water for a few minutes. After his boat went down, he attempted to swim to shore with his boat when he was seen going under water.

While he tried to take care of his boat problem, the crocodile swam up to Constain and bit his leg. He said his naval and sailing experience kicked in when the bite occurred.

“My leg that was in the water, I knew my leg was stuck,” said Constain.

Soon, he saw himself fighting to free himself from the jaws of a crocodile. He took matters and the crocodile’s snout into his own hands.

“I tried to reach the boat again, to climb it, and I told myself ‘No, I cannot do that because if I try to climb it, he will grab me again,'” said Constain. “So, I put the boat in my back and pulled it with a rope and went underneath the boat and pulled it to the deck again and go swimming there so I can be rescued.”

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

Constain’s wound has to stay open to prevent infection. He said he is in pain but is assured that there is only one reason why he survived.

“There’s only explanation of this, is God. He saved my life. He was with me in that moment,” said Constain.

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. Experts say the bites are rare because crocodiles are shy animals.

Constrain said that if he didn’t get out of the water, this would have had a very different ending.

“The crocodile was still swimming. I have pain but nothing matters. I feel good that I’m here, alive,” said Constain.

Constain’s family has set up a GoFundMe to help with medical expenses. They say he works as a air conditioning technician and he can’t do his job as he recovers.

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.

City of Miami Police units responded to a call about possibly high on narcotics causing a disturbance in the area of Northwest 58th Street and Seventh Court, just after 2 p.m., Thursday.

Cellphone video captured five police officers standing near the front of a house. The man is seen standing on the front porch wielding a blade.

A witness who recorded video of the incident said he noticed police cruisers in the neighborhood.

“I see this line of police cars. The instinct is to pull out my phone, just to see what happens,” he said.

The video shows the blade-wielding man accompanied by a woman and a man in a light blue shirt.

A police officer pulled the man in the blue shirt away from the front porch.

Investigators said the armed man refused to comply with the officers’ commands to drop the weapon.

“Shoot! Shoot in the heart!” the man is heard saying in the video.

Moments later, an officer deployed a Taser. When he stayed up, officers shocked him again.

After appearing to writhe in pain, the man either lunged at the officers or stumbled toward them while appearing to wave the blade. At least one officer opened fire, striking the man several times.

“Oh, my God. Oh, my God,” a woman is heard saying in cellphone video showing the man lying on the ground.

According to Miami Fire Rescue, the 40-year-old man was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds.

Audio from cellphone video captured between 10 and 11 shots fired.

Area resident Dan Davidson said he heard the gunfire.

“I was up on my balcony. I was petting my cats and stuff, you know, looking over, chilling out, and all of a sudden I hear like six gunshots, at least six gunshots, one right after the other, ‘boom, boom, boom, boom, boom,'” he said. “I was thinking, ‘Oh, man, that’s not firecrackers. Sometimes the kids do firecrackers out here.”

Davidson said he then went outside his home.

“So I come out here, and the cops were like, ‘Oh! Get back in!'” he said. “And they were already coming, like 50 cop cars down this street, down this street, down there.”

Cameras captured the moment paramedics wheeled the injured man into Ryder Trauma Center.

Back at the scene, 7News cameras captured a heavy police presence and a portion of Northwest 58th Street cordoned off with crime scene tape.

Drivers were urged to avoid the area while police remained at the scene for hours.

When asked whether officers had no other choice than to discharge their firearms so many times, Miami Police Capt. Freddie Cruz replied, “They did deploy the Taser, so they had the non-lethal, but the weapon that they used it, it had no effect, so then that officer made that determination to fire for everyone’s safety.”

One police officer was seen in the video appearing to fire their weapon. It’s unclear whether or not other officers also opened fire.

As of Friday morning, the man remains in stable condition.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is the lead agency in the ongoing investigation.

Investigators urge anyone related to this incident to contact FDLE or call Miami Police at 305-579-6111.

Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a shooting near the 3200 block of West Copans Road, at around 11:27 p.m. on Wednesday.

“Shots fired. Employee started shooting, approximately one person shot. Advising the employee has a gun,” said a dispatcher on radio transmissions.

“While they were en-route to the scene, they were given information that an armed adult male may still be in the area,” said BSO spokesperson Veda Coleman-Wright.

Once deputies arrived, detectives said, they encountered an armed 59-year-old suspect who had fatally shot his 42-year-old co-worker at the end of their shift.

“This armed individual had gotten into some type of — I don’t know if it was an argument or a dispute — but he actually shot and killed one of his co-workers,” said Coleman-Wright.

Alejandro Penediro, who works at a nearby tire shop, said he was inside the business when his co-worker told him to hide because of the shooting.

Speaking in Spanish, Penediro said he heard a few shots, then a barrage, and that was when he ran for cover.

“I was terrified. I had never been in something like that,” he said.

Cellphone video showed responding deputies guided in by workers, and that’s when, investigators said, the shooter took aim at the deputies.

“At some point, he fired at deputies, and deputies returned fire,” said Coleman-Wright.

The gunshots could be heard on a cellphone video obtained by 7News.

Hours later, bullet holes could be seen on the windshield of a transit bus.

The suspect was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators said three BSO deputies opened fire.

The shooting is currently under investigation by BSO’s Crime Scene, Homicide and Internal Affairs units, along with FDLE.

Broward County officials released the following statement on the incident:

Broward County Employee Assistance Teams were deployed early this morning to work with fellow employees who have been affected by last night’s tragedy at one of our bus maintenance facilities.

The County has been fully cooperating with all law enforcement activities related to this incident.

“This is a tragic loss of life. Our Broward County family grieves the loss of these two transit employees. Let us keep their memories in our thoughts and prayers as we process this terrible loss,” said Mayor Nan Rich.

Our bus operations will run as scheduled however there may be some delays or minor interruptions because of the ongoing investigations at our facility.

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of life in our Broward County family”, said Broward County Administrator Monica Cepero, “on behalf of County Administration and our Board of County Commissioners, we extend our most heartfelt condolences to their families, friends, coworkers and loved ones during this very difficult time.”

Office of Public Communications

The three deputies involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, following BSO policy, pending further investigation.

Public records showed that 43-year-old Victor Montalvo posted bond, Wednesday morning. 7News cameras were there as he walked out of jail and shook his head to questions he left unanswered.

“Anything you would like to say? I mean, you are a police officer, trusted to follow the law and enforce the law,” 7News reporter Jessica Holly asked.

A 7News crew was exclusively outside the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center as Montalvo walked out and hid in a lobby as he waited for his ride. Once the ride arrived, he slipped out through a rear door and took off.

Investigators said the incident unfolded around 12:45 a.m. on Tuesday while Montalvo was on duty.

The officer was heading west on Southwest 72nd Street in his unmarked black Ford Explorer SUV when he struck an occupied marked police vehicle stationed on 72nd Street.

Neighbors in the area reacted to the incident on Wednesday morning.

“Driving drunk … is just not something I can deal with,” said area resident Klaus Eylerts.

According to officials, the marked police car was blocking the inner lane to ensure the safety of road workers in the area. A police report stated that after the crash Montalvo “unsteadily” exited the SUV while the police officer in the marked vehicle checked on the workers.

A crew worker then reportedly told the police officer that Montalvo was “laying prone in the roadway.”

The officer then reportedly saw Montalvo reach for the front of his waistband, draw a semi-automatic firearm and take “what appeared to be a low-ready, prone, tactical-type position with what appeared to be a dazed or confused look on his face.”

Montalvo quickly dropped his gun after the police officer loudly ordered him to drop his weapon. The officer kicked it away and handcuffed Montalvo before placing him in the back of a police car.

At one point during the arrest, Montalvo said, “I drank too much,” to an officer. Other officers who arrived at the scene said Montalvo’s breath smelled of alcohol.

According to the arrest report, officer smelled “an odor of an alcoholic beverage on the defendant’s breath, see his watery eyes, hear his slurred speech.”

Despite police telling him of the consequences of refusing a sobriety test, Montalvo refused to take one.

While Montalvo was in the back seat of the police car, he peed himself, investigators said.

The crash resulted in injuries that were not life-threatening to both officers involved.

Montalvo, who had a 20-year tenure on the force, was charged with DUI and causing property damage. He was held on a $2,000 bond before his release.

In response to the incident, Director Stephanie V. Daniels released a statement:

“As the police Director, I am disheartened by the recent incident involving one of my officers who was arrested for driving under the influence, while on duty. My officers are held to the highest standards of conduct, both on and off duty, and the actions of this individual do not reflect the core values of our department. The officer has been relieved of duty and we will continue to work with the State Attorney’s office throughout the judicial process.”

On Tuesday morning, a silver Mustang crashed into a tree along US-1 near Wiley Street, leading Hallandale Beach and Hollywood Police officers to investigate. The car was a total loss as all the airbags were deployed and it had significant front-end damage. Around 9 a.m., the sports car was towed away.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the person(s) in the vehicle fled the scene. Surveillance footage obtained by 7News showed two people exit the vehicle after the crash.

As a result, Hollywood Police established a significant perimeter on east Pembroke Road approaching US-1 as they looked for suspects in the area. The perimeter extended between Pembroke Road and Monroe Street on portions of US-1.

“We got quite a scene as a police perimeter on US-1 in Hollywood,” said 7SkyForce reporter. “I want to pan north here and show you a car that slammed into a tree.”

Witnesses said a woman was possibly thrown out of that car just around the corner before the crash at US-1 and Pembroke Road.

“I saw the girl try to take as step and fall face first to the floor very hard,” said Lequan Payne, a man who witnessed the ordeal.

Payne said after he saw the woman get thrown out of the Mustang, he went over to help, but did not realize that she was shot.

“I saw her fall and collapse and that’s when I went over to help her,” he said. “She was just on the floor. She wasn’t answering back. I saw her choking so I thought she was all right because saw her choking. I was like, ‘All right, she’s breathing because she’s choking,’ but I didn’t know that she was shot prior to that.”

Payne added that when an ambulance arrived, they turned her over and he saw blood. He recalls first responders saying that she was shot.

The woman’s condition remains unknown.

Surveillance video showed bystanders then coming out to check what happened. Minutes later police showed up and started their hours-long investigation.

Police have not yet confirmed any details in this incident, but they are searching for the suspects involved in this crime.

If you have any information on this crime, 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.

Voters cast their ballots at several polling locates in Hialeah, Miami Beach and Monroe County.

“I think it’s very important to chose your voice early and let it be known,” said Charles Hunnicutt, a voter.

For this election, voters are advised to check their party affiliation. Because Florida is a closed primary state, only registered Republicans will be able to vote for their preferred candidate.

Early voting will run through Sunday, March 17 in Miami-Dade and Saturday, March 16 in Monroe.

This coming Saturday, voters in Broward and Palm Beach counties may begin casting early ballots through March 17.

Christina White, the Miami-Dade supervisor of elections, spoke to 7News on how to prepare for this election season.

“In this particular test, which is called the logic and accuracy test, we do a 5% random sampling,” she said. “I like to call it the confidence test because it proves to us, the voters, the political parties and the candidates, that the ballot was coded as it should have been and that the voting units are capturing those votes accurately.”

White also shared some tips with voters before they cast their ballots.

“So the first thing is check your party affiliation and make a plan,” she said. “Voting has never been easier in the state of Florida. You have three options; to vote-by-mail, come to early voting or on election day. The law has changed recently, where you have to renew your vote-by-mail ballot request, so you’re going to want to check to make sure you have that request on file if you want to vote-by- mail, and if not, put it in as soon as possible. The deadline is March 7.”

“I believe there should be a lot of changes and every vote counts, so I need, everybody needs to get out and vote, and make sure they vote their choice,” Hunnicutt said. “If you don’t vote, you’re not going to be able to determine what’s best for this country.”

If voters decide to use a mail-in-ballot, they can drop them off their assigned polling locations.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Early voting in Miami-Dade County

Early voting in Broward County

Early voting in Monroe County

Early voting in Palm Beach County

Twenty-nine-year-old Cristina Arrojo and 52-year-old Marcelo Asenjo Garcia appeared before Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy S. Glazer, Friday afternoon.

“Forced the victim into the passenger cabin of the U-Haul truck,” Glazer said during Arrojo’s court appearance.

Officials said the suspects were involved in the kidnapping of Amir Dalit Akbarnia, Arrojo’s roommate, at around 6 p.m. on Thursday.

According to Miami-Dade Police, the 33-year-old victim was with a friend, 35-year-old Nigel Burkes, at a Walmart located on 91st Avenue and Flagler Street, when he got a call from Arrojo offering him a ride.

When she went to meet him, detectives said, Arrojo accused Akbarnia of stealing her credit card from their home.

The arrest report said Asenjo Garcia got out of the U-Haul truck.

“As [the victim] is talking to [Arrojo], the Hispanic male approaches, strikes him, forcibly puts him inside of the truck,” said MDPD Detective Alvaro Zabaleta.

Police said the suspects forced both Akbarnia and Burke into the truck and drove to the victim’s father’s house, but no one was home.

So they continued and apparently got hungry. They made a pit stop at a McDonald’s on West Flagler Street in Sweetwater.

“Everyone gets off the truck to enter the fast food establishment to order food, and that’s when the victim seizes the opportunity to alert an employee and advises them that he had been abducted,” said Zabaleta.

The employee recalled that the victim was scared and panicked as he provided a description of the U-Haul truck and his alleged captors. When the suspects noticed this, Arrojo attempted to take Akbarnia’s wallet and phone, biting him in the process.

“The subject then bites the victim and takes his cellphone and [they] flee in the box truck,” stated Zabaleta.

The employee immediately called 911, leading to a rapid response from Sweetwater Police.

Officers stopped the U-Haul truck was stopped on Southwest 97th Avenue and Sixth Street, and apprehended Arrojo and Asenjo Garcia. Burke, the victim’s friend, was also arrested for drug-related charges.

“Because of the rapid response, they were able to saturate the area, locate the box truck and detain three individuals that were inside,” said Zabaleta.

Arrojo and Asenjo Garcia are being held without bond.

According to Miami-Dade Police, the 33-year-old victim was called to meet a female friend in a parking lot near 93rd Avenue and Flagler Street, at around 6 p.m., Thursday.

Detectives said the victim didn’t think anything of the meeting place or the U-Haul that the woman used to arrive at the location until he noticed that she wasn’t alone.

“He observed there was an additional Hispanic male with her. The Hispanic male then strikes the [victim], hits him, and they force him into the U-Haul truck,” said MDPD Detective Alvaro Zabaleta

Police said the subjects left the parking lot and headed to a nearby home, but no one was there.

At some point, investigators said, the suspects got hungry and decided to stop at the McDonald’s located on 105th Avenue and Flagler Street in Sweetwater.

“Everyone gets off the truck to enter the fast food establishment to order food, and that’s when the victim seizes the opportunity to alert an employee and advises them that he has been abducted,” said Zabaleta.

Speaking with 7News in Spanish, that employee, Merly Oliva, said the victim was scared and looked panicked. He began giving her a description of the U-Haul truck and his alleged captors. Oliva said at that point, the woman he was with grabbed the victim and rushed him out of the restaurant.

According to police, after the McDonald’s employee dialed 911, one of the subjects bit the victim and forcefully took his phone before they fled the scene in the U-Haul truck.

Sweetwater Police located and stopped the truck in the area of Southwest 97th Avenue and Sixth Street, where they arrested the individuals.

“City of Sweetwater’s swift action was able to locate and apprehend these individuals,” said Zabaleta.

When officers searched the U-Haul truck, they found the third subject inside. It remains unclear what his connection to the abduction is, but police said he was also arrested because he had narcotics on him.

Detectives said they are conducting interviews as they attempt to determine why the victim was targeted in the first place.

Broward Sheriff’s Office officials identified the children as 9-year-old Maddox Mattingly and his 7-year-old sister, Sloan Mattingly.

Sloan was pronounced dead after being transported to Broward Health Medical Center, while Maddox remains hospitalized.

The family was on vacation from Indiana when the incident occurred, officials said.

Mattingly’s father describes the young girl as “full of love and life and always smiling.”

An old Facebook video shows the father speaking to Sloan at a home.

“What boy are you going to love the most no matter what?” asked the father in the video. Sloan points to him.

Her mother, posting on social media late Wednesday night: “We love you beyond any stretch of the imagination. Our sweet Sloan. What we would give.”

Jenny Fedele, principal of Lafayette Meadows Elementary, where Sloan was a student, released the following statement:

It is with a heavy heart that I write this letting you know we lost a precious member of the Lafayette Meadows School family. Sloan Mattingly was a bright, sweet, loving 1st grade student in Ms. Vanbrocklin’s class. Sloan passed away on Tuesday. We will be talking with Ms. Vanbrocklin’s class, as well as Ms. Kilbourne’s class, as Sloan’s brother is a member of that classroom, on Thursday.

Our administration team and counselors have support resources available for any student or staff member who is in need during this time of loss. Please be sure to communicate any concerns with myself, Mr. Kowalski, Ms. Blackburn or Ms. Tanesky so we can support students as needed.

Please keep the Mattingly family in your thoughts and prayers. They have requested privacy at this time. We will pass along any further information the family wishes to share.

Jenny Fedele

Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Fire Rescue arrived at the scene in the area of 4424 El Mar Drive, Tuesday afternoon, after receiving a call about the children trapped in the sand.

The frantic calls to 911 captured the desperate beachgoers seeking help as they began digging the sand to rescue the children.

“Nine-one-one, what’s the address of the emergency?” a dispatcher said.

“I’m standing back. My husband is out there, and a bunch of men are digging on the beach.” said a caller.

“There’s a little girl buried under the sand, and they have not gotten her yet,” another caller said.

“What part of the body is trapped?” said the dispatcher.

“I can’t see. There’s so many people,” said a woman. “They have not gotten the child out. They’re digging.”

“Is the child’s head above the sand?” asked the dispatcher.

“No, they don’t see her head,” said one person.

In the background of the calls, chaos is heard as the mother of the children watched in horror.

“The father started yelling for help, that his child is caught in a hole in the sand. They were digging.” said one caller.

“They need help, they really do,” said one person.

“Oh, this mother. It’s just awful,” said a person.

“It’s too long, I know.” said one person.

Police said the children were playing in the sand.

Witnesses said Maddox was in the hole but had his head out of the sand, while Sloan was still covered by the sand. Once inside the hole, the sand collapsed on them. 

“The boy was three or four feet down, but at that point, his head was above the sand. I guess his sister was beside him, and she was down further,” said witness David Davies. “They tried to dig her out, but the more they dug, the more the sand collapsed. They tried putting boards to try and keep the sand from falling in. She was down for quite a while.”

The little girl was under the sand for at least 20 minutes.

“It’s tough, it’s tough,” said Davies.

“It’s terrifying,” said a witness on the scene.

Beachgoers on Wednesday were saddened to hear what had happened the day before, as other kids played with the sand.

“It’s devastating. I mean, we’re in town from Canada with our kids,” said Daniel Capoano. “Come out for a day at the beach to hear that a kid was killed and just kinda having some fun. It’s tragic.”

There are no lifeguards on the part of the beach where the incident happened. The city has not reached back about what their lifeguard policy is.

Broward Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit detectives and Lauderdale-By-The-Sea officials are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

In some cities like Fort Lauderdale, digging in the sand is against the rules.

“One reason is that it is unstable, can collapse and it can be dangerous to anyone who is digging the hole,” said Alex Bagwell with Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue. “Another factor is we operate emergency vehicles on the beach.”

For the Mattingly family, the warnings are too late, but hopefully the messages will help another family.

A few days ago, a similar incident occurred in New Jersey. A 2-year-old was buried in the sand, but luckily his father was next to him, and he survived.

On the sand Wednesday night, 7News cameras captured flowers and a teddy bear left in memory of Sloan.

Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Fire Rescue arrived at the scene in the area of 4424 El Mar Drive, Tuesday afternoon.

7Skyforce hovered over the scene, where safety cones and yellow tape surrounded the hole at the beach.

According to Pompano Beach officials, the little girl died at the hospital.

Witnesses said two children were inside the hole. One of the children, a little boy, was in the hole but had his head out of the sand while another child, a little girl, was still covered by the sand. Once inside the hole, the sand collapsed on the children. They said the little girl seemed to be in much rougher shape than the little boy.

Bystanders said they believe the hole was five to six feet deep.

“The boy was three or four feet down but at that point, his head was above the sand. I guess his sister was beside him and she was down further. They tried to dig her out, the more the sand collapsed. They tried putting boards to try and keep the sand from falling in She was down for quite awhile,” said witness David Davies.

“So many sirens,” said another person.

One witness guessed the children’s ages to be around 7-year-old.

According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, at one point there were 20 people were trying to dig the children out of the sand.

One of the people, speaking to 7News, said he has two daughters and couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

“I don’t know what happened but I have 2 daughters, so I run right to it,” said the person.

“We have 20 people digging trying to find the child. The child is about 8-years-old,” said the dispatcher.

The children were removed from the hole and were transported to Broward Health Medical Center for treatment.

“I’ve never heard of anything like this before, especially with the size of that hole right there, it’s crazy,” said one person who helped dig the kids out.

“How are you doing watching something like that?” asked the reporter.

“It’s tough, it’s tough,” said Davies.

As one of the children arrived at the hospital, they were receiving chest compressions.

At the hospital, the little boy, as well as his other loved ones, waited in the emergency room, clearly upset.

Beach goers said they had no idea what was going on until they saw the commotion.

“It’s horrifying, it’s horrible,” said Carol Kulkin.

It is unclear if the children are local or from out of town. The relationship of the children is also unknown. Officials also don’t know how the hole in the sand was created.

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.

“Just a whole bunch of gunshots. That’s all I heard,” said one man.

Police reportedly arrived at the scene around 3 a.m. Tuesday at the 700 block of Northwest 95th Street.

Officials said two subjects, possibly known by the victim, forced themselves into the victim’s apartment and opened fire, striking the victim several times.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue transported the victim in critical condition to Ryder Trauma Center.

The subjects stole personal items and fled the scene, according to police.

“People dying, people getting shot. What’s going on? I live in this neighborhood. I don’t want anybody to get killed,” said a resident.

Authorities are still searching for the two subjects.

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.

“Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day,” said attendee Diane Evers.

Tens of thousands of people celebrated over the weekend, experiencing live art, drinks and breezy weather at first. But, by Sunday afternoon, storms prompted organizers to close the event early.

Relentless rain flooded streets and strong winds blew over banners and table.

“We knew it was going to be raining, we knew it was going to be not so nice, and we came anyway,” said Evers.

Many art enthusiasts braved the conditions despite the weather, enjoying the lighter crowds at the event.

“We were actually sitting in the parking lot, debating whether or not we should come,” said attendee Rico Herrera, “and once we got a window of clear weather, we came through, and it was actually a lot better than the normal crowds.”

Other big events like the Miami International Boat Show in Miami Beach continued during Sunday’s weather.

“[I’m having a] great time,” said one man. “[It’s] Forrest Gump rain though [because] it’s coming from the bottom, top, all over.”

With boats and watercraft covered, the crowds were forced indoors, which didn’t bother a couple of young attendees.

“And it’s fun and we get to have lots of candy,” said the girl.

Visitors from up north did not seem to mind the weather either.

“Better than six inches of snow, which we got two days ago,” said a man.

Monday marks the last day of the festival in Coconut Grove, which is set to begin again at 10 a.m. and will end at 5 p.m.

Skies turned gray early as storms moved ashore throughout the day.

Cellphone video posted to social media captured the wet mess across the region.

In Pembroke Pines, one driver recorded video of a blinding downpour, and 7News cameras captured a downed tree blocking part of a street.

In Tamarac, part of a ceiling came down right in front of a tenant inside her apartment unit.

Fort Lauderdale saw a 1994 rain record shattered with 2.08 inches reported Sunday, but that amount was dwarfed by a reported 4.39 inches of rain in Pompano Beach and 3.23 inches in Oakland Park. It’s the wettest the region has been since November.

The weekend washout extended to Coconut Grove, where tens of thousands of people flocked to attend the 60th Coconut Grove Arts Festival earlier in the weekend.

Attendees experienced live art, drinks and breezy weather at first. Unfortunately, by Sunday afternoon, storms prompted organizers to close the festival down early.

Despite many of the events happening under tents, strong winds and heavy rain knocked down some of the tables and banners and flooded out some streets.

7News cameras captured overturned chairs and signs, as well as closed-down tents and some flooding.

Organizers said they are fixing things up and will be back open Monday at 10 a.m. as scheduled.

Despite the soggy weather, some art enthusiasts told 7News they still managed to enjoy themselves and actually liked the lighter crowds.

“We knew it was going to be raining, we knew it was going to be not so nice, and we came anyway,” said attendee Diane Evers, “so hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.”

“We were actually sitting in the parking lot, debating whether or not we should come,” said attendee Rico Herrera, “and once we got a window of clear weather, we came through, and it was actually a lot better than the normal crowds.”

The wet conditions also affected another major event taking place this Presidents’ Day weekend: the Miami International Boat Show. However, the event did not close and went on as scheduled.

Boats and watercraft were covered, and crowds were forced indoors, which didn’t bother a girl and a boy who spoke with 7News.

“And we get to have lots of candy,” said the girl.

Visitors from up north also didn’t seem to mind the rain.

“Better than six inches of snow, which we got two days ago,” said a man.

More precipitation is expected during the overnight hours, as well as cooler temperatures. Come Monday morning, rain chances are forecast at 20%, and conditions will become drier and more windy as the day progresses.

Meteorologists said temperatures are expected to dip into the 50s for at least three nights later in the week.

On Friday morning, the Key Biscayne Village Council held a meeting for the community to hear opinions after a 12-year-old riding an e-bike crashed into 66-year-old Megan Andrews, leading to her death. Officials convened in an effort to prevent another tragedy like this.

“We’re going to look for other solutions, but if we don’t find those, we will continue the ban as long as we can,” said Key Biscayne Mayor Joe Rasco.

According to Key Biscayne Police, the incident happened on Wednesday night at the intersection of Woodcrest Road and Hampton Lane while Andrews was riding her bike.

Neighbors in the area called for action from the local government, including Mark Fried, a lifelong friend of Andrews, who said that for too long, they’ve treated potential e-bikes and scooter accidents as “no big deal.” 

“She rode past me around 6:50 Wednesday night before this happened. We greeted each other, and I can’t believe that was the last time,” said Jennifer Butrich, a friend of Andrews.

The gathering had a huge turnout, as dozens of people came out to plead the council to pass the ban. Some had signs that read “#MeganAndrewsLaw” and “Ban Them.”

Andrews’ husband, Frank, sat on the front row at the council meeting.

“We need to stop this,” said Mike Davie, an attendee at the meeting. “I always worry it’s going to be my father on the sidewalk, but we lost an incredible light. She was an incredible person.”

A female attendee said, “I don’t walk in peace. I have to walk the dog, but I’m walking looking left and right because they come zooming by.”

Another speaker got emotional as he spoke, resulting in the vice mayor shedding tears.

“I’m sorry, OK? This is horrible,” said the speaker.

Tensions got high at one point. While the vast majority of the crowd wanted the ban, one woman said there should be more education and suggested Andrews wasn’t wearing a helmet.

“The lady died because she was not wearing a helmet,” said one woman as boos were heard among the crowd.

As the woman walked out of the room, one resident told her to “get off the island.”

The woman, being held back by police, yelled “Excuse me? You are a decrepit old lady. You get off the island.”

As the ban went into effect, some residents said parents should teach their children the rules of the road.

“I gave my son a driver’s test before he was able to use his e-bike,” said Marisabel, whose son has an e-bike. “I took him out, I told him what a stop sign was, I told him how long to stop, I followed him around in the golf cart, and I took responsibility in teaching him.”

One of Andrews’ loved ones said e-bikes had been a dangerous problem for years on the island.

“We got to figure this out and that’s what we’ve been asking for for a long time. Take a break. And tonight is the first night I’ve walked on sidewalks and streets and felt like I could possibly be safe,” said Andrews’ friend Cindy Dodds.

Friends of Andrews remembered the victim on Thursday. In an interview with 7News, Fried said she was more than a one-in-a-million type of person.

“She was an amazing educator. She taught my nephew who has special needs,” he said. “She’s known and loved by the community. That gives me the privilege to cry.”

Dodds remembers her as an educator who tutored local students in her free time.

“She helped so many kids out here. So many kids who were struggling. She would just take them in her little school house in the back and get them caught up and build up their confidence and that’s what she did for our son Kyle,” said Dodds.

In Florida, there is no age limitation or license needed to use an e-bike.

“I’m glad that you are reacting,” said Michelle Estevez. “I’m glad you had to wait for someone to lose their life when we have been asking for this for two years.”

Following the ban, a school resource officer handed out a flyer to all the kids during dismissal, saying that an emergency ban had been enacted and citations of $250 will be given for first-time offenders and $500 for subsequent offenses.

“I have a flyer here,” the school resource officer said as kids hopped on their e-bikes when school was dismissed. “That says every single motorized scooter, Super73, OK, is banned. Meaning, you will go home. You will ride them home and park them, OK? The only thing you’re allowed to ride is your bicycle, if you have a regular bicycle.”

But more than frustration, there was sadness as the community grieved a beloved mother, special disabilities teacher, longtime resident and friend.

“I think everybody in this room knew this tragedy was going to happen, but we didn’t know who it was going to happen to,” said Gene Sterns. “We couldn’t have lost a better person.”

During the meeting, the ban was passed unanimously, which would be in effect for the city of Key Biscayne, except for Crandon Boulevard, as it is a county road. The council members are now working with them to ban e-bikes on that roadway as well.

Miami-Dade Commissioner Raquel A. Regalado is working on an ordinance to allow Key Biscayne to enforce their law on Crandon Boulevard.

Friday night, countless candles were lit up in memory of Andrews, as hundreds of friends and neighbors gathered near the intersection where the crash happened to place flowers and candles at her memorial.

“I’m just happy that we could be here to honor Megan and think of her and have her in our memories,” said said Donna Rice, Andrews’ friend. “She was an angel on Earth, and now she’s an angel in heaven.”

A speaker who took the microphone at her memorial remembered Andrews as a special human being.

“Megan was one of those rare people who truly saw the best in everyone that she met,” said the speaker.

Andrews’ family released a statement on Friday. It reads, “Megan’s death has delivered a devastating blow, not only to her husband Frank but also to their daughter Alexandra, her family and the entire island community, who held Megan dear in their hearts. Megan Andrews was more than a resident; she was a pillar of the Key Biscayne community. A dedicated learning disabilities specialist and Florida State Certified Teacher, Megan’s impact extended far beyond her own family. Her love extended to all those she encountered. Her selfless acts of compassion serve as a reminder of the power of love to make the world a brighter and more beautiful place.”

Megan Andrews, 66, was fatally hit by a 12-year-old while riding her bicycle at the intersection of Woodcrest Road and Hampton Lane, Wednesday night.

Mark Fried, a life-long friend of the victim, said she was more than a one-in-a-million type of person.

“She was an amazing educator. She taught my nephew who has special needs,” he said. “She’s known and loved by the community. That gives me the privilege to cry.”

Fried described the crash scene.

“There were four or five police cars with lights on, and there was a crime tape,” he said.

Fried pointed the finger to the Village of Key Biscayne government, saying that for too long, they’ve treated potential e-bikes and scooter accidents as “no big deal.” Back in February, he wrote the village council a letter about the problem.

“Stop signs don’t mean anything. Cars don’t mean anything. They are just out there,” he said. “There are two sides of the story. One is the failure of leadership and not setting or enforcing rules. The bigger story is the loss of a wonderful woman.”

Neighbors agree with Fried’s assessment.

“If you have kids, 10 years old, younger or older, driving around these bikes that are 30 miles per hour, speed limit here is 20 miles per hour. Running stop signs. Going in the wrong direction, one-way streets,” said George Nelson, the victim’s neighbor.

In Florida, there is no age limitation or license needed to use an e-bike.

For years, and as recently as Tuesday night, residents appeared at the Village Council meeting to warn members that something awful could happen if they don’t crack down on children, who are years away from obtaining a valid driver’s license, riding e-bikes at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour.

Residents said these kid drivers are simply ignoring or don’t know the rules of the road.

“I’d like to say that the safety and security of our residents is a top priority,” said Key Biscayne Mayor Joe Rasco during Tuesday’s meeting.

Tuesday’s meeting ended with village officials being asked to draft their opinion on the matter. But following the death of Andrews, Rasco is rolling out immediate measures.

“Residents are so outraged by the ongoing crashes by e-bikes that the mayor has announced an emergency city council meeting on Friday, Feb. 16, where I will be proposing an emergency ban on e-bikes and scooters effective immediately,” said Rasco in a video.

But neighbors said the move by the village could be too little, too late.

“She is a pillar of the community. I grew up with her two children, and it’s just a big loss since we’ve all been trying to control these e-bikes that have gotten wild out here,” said Nelson.

“This leadership, they didn’t do their jobs,” Fried said.

Rasco’s office told 7News that the mayor was not available for an interview on Thursday but would have more to say in Friday’s meeting, set to begin at 9 a.m.

It is unclear whether or not the 12-year-old involved in the fatal crash will face any consequences.

Miami-Dade Police units responded to the scene near Biscayne Gardens Elementary School, located at 560 NW 151st St. in Northwest Miami-Dade, at around 7:30 a.m., Thursday.

The victim’s grandmother said her three grandchildren were crossing the road together when a car hit at least one of them.

The woman was emotional when she spoke to 7News.

“She flew him! She flew him up into the air, my granddaughter said. If he wasn’t doing bad, why’d they have to airlift him?” said the grandmother. “They hit him here. Look where she stopped.”

The grandmother said she rushed to the scene as soon she heard about the crash.

“They airlift him to [Ryder] Trauma Hospital,” she said.

Live video footage showed the air rescue helicopter en-route to the school.

A 12-year-old boy was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital. According to the child’s grandmother, he has a collapsed lung and may have brain damage. The boy had to undergo emergency surgery around noon.

The boy has since been out of surgery but is still fighting for his life.

7News cameras captured the boy’s family outside the hospital.

According to authorities, the driver of the car that struck the children remained at the scene. Video footage showed extensive front-end damage to the white car that hit the children.

As of Thursday night, it remains unclear whether or not the woman who drove the car that hit the victim will be facing charges.

Police continue to investigate this incident.

7News cameras captured the entrance to the commissioner’s Coconut Grove home on Morris Lane, Wednesday night.

The quiet neighborhood could become the center of a lot of fanfare over Carollo’s house.

Filmmaker Billy Corben, host of the podcast Because Miami, took to social media after spotting an ad in Miami New Times.
Touting a high end auction

In a phone conversation with 7News, Carollo addressed the ad.

“I found out through my attorneys that the U.S. Marshals are putting some kind of sale of my property for March 19th,” he said.

The notice was posted by Gadyaces S. Serralta, the United States Marshal with the Southern District of Florida, and it listed the “Attorney for Plaintiffs, Jeffrey W. Gutchess [Esquire].”

Gutchess represents Bill Fuller and Martin Pinilla, the owners of the Ball & Chain nightclub in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood. Fuller and Pinilla won a multimillon-dollar federal lawsuit against the embattled commissioner.

The auction ad goes on to list the address of Carollo’s home, stating, “The subject property is being sold “AS-IS” and “WHERE IS.”

Back on Feb. 2, a U.S. Marshal placed a notice on the front door of the commissioner’s property, the first part of the process in seizing his assets in order to pay off the judgment.

Carollo lost that lawsuit against the owners of Ball & Chain back in June. A jury ordered him to pay $63.5 million in damages, finding him liable for harassing the men.

Carollo insisted his home in the Grove is protected under constitutional homestead.

“I have the protection of the Florida Constitution,” he said.

Carollo said he has filed paperwork indicating his house is protected, but according to the property appraiser, the home does not have homestead exemption.

Meanwhile, Carollo continues to try and fight the judgment. He said he is confident that once it reaches an appellate court, it will go in his favor.

“I am an American citizen. I have the right to be protected under the rule of law and have due process,” he said.

The commissioner added he is meeting with his attorneys in an attempt to stop the auction from happening.

According to the ad, the auction has been scheduled for March 19 at the Federal Courthouse in downtown Miami, beginning at noon.

Love was in the air on Wednesday, as well as on the steps of the Miami-Dade County Courthouse.

“It’s just a beautiful day and being able to celebrate the union of two people who love each other, there’s nothing more beautiful than this,” said Miami-Dade County Clerk Juan Fernandez-Barquín.

“We rather spend our money on each other and buy a cute little house,” Melinda said,

Twenty couples said “I do” to forever on one of the most romantic days of the year.

For Andrew and Joe, they have been together 36 years and Valentine’s Day marked their anniversary.

“Actually, today is actually 37,” Andrew said.

To celebrate, the two decided renew their vows.

“We’re grateful for this opportunity to continue our lives together and formally tie a knot to show the world that we love one another,” Andrew said.

Some couples, like Ruben and Melinda, don’t even speak the same language.

“I’m trying every day to talk to practice for my love,” Ruben said. “It’s really hard for me. I am learning English.”

Other couples, like Bertha Ramirez and her now husband, Rene Cruz Prado, don’t speak much at all.

Although they can’t hear, they can surely listen.

Their daughter, translating through sign language, told 7News that the two met when they were 12 years old. They were just a couple of children in school, and fortunately, they found their way back to each other three years ago.

The stories of love aren’t always easy.

Sometimes it takes time and most days it takes patience. But with the right person, love transcends it all.

“It’s beautiful. I don’t know how it works, I don’t have that answer but I don’t care,” Melinda said.

“We figured that after all these many years, we have shown each other love for one other so many times, what better of showing your love than marrying someone,” Joe said.

The event will mark last time it will be held at the Miami-Dade Courthouse. The historic courthouse has been around for 100 years.

Next year, the event will take place at nearby building, which will be the new courthouse. It is slated to open later this year.

The event, running all the way through Sunday, is anticipating 100,000 visitors and injecting more than $1.3 billion into South Florida’s economy.

The show will be spread across six distinct locations throughout Miami and Miami Beach, including Herald Plaza, the Miami Beach Convention Center, Museum Park Marina, Pride Park, Venetian Marina, and Superyacht Miami at Yacht Haven Grande Miami.

As the boats lined the shores, 7Skyforce showed an early glimpse of the impressive vessels that have already graced the city.

Traffic delays are expected in the area as there will be an influx of visitors. Attendees and commuters are encouraged to plan accordingly as they plan their journeys.

For more information and ticket purchases, visit the event website.

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

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to the scene of the crash several miles away from PortMiami, just after 3:15 p.m., Sunday.

“We got a call that two vessels collided in Fisherman’s [Channel],” said MDFR Division Chief Horacio Rodriguez.

Units with City of Miami Fire Rescue, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard also responded to the scene.

MDFR officials said two vessels collided, injuring 29 people in total.

“We got a report that 20-somewhat patients were affected,” said Rodriguez.

Fire officials said a Thriller sightseeing boat and what appeared to be a private vessel crashed into each other.

Paramedics transported 13 patients. At least one of them was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital.

7News cameras captured paramedics wheeling the victim into the hospital after the patient was airlifted.

The extent of the victims’ injuries remains unclear, but no fatalities were reported.

7News cameras captured multiple MDFR ambulances and fire engines at PortMiami, where the patients were brought to shore.

“There were other people inside the boat, it was a tour boat that was involved from Bayside, and the patients that had no complaints were taken back to Bayside,” said Rodriguez.

New video of the vessel captured on Monday morning showed the side broken in with its chairs out of place from the impact.

It was back at Bayside where FWC investigators gathered as they try to determine what happened. Though investigation is ongoing, FWC announced on Monday that they will be releasing an initial report later in the day.

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the hospital where the victims are staying will be talking to a trauma team to get an update on the 13 injured individuals.

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.

Th recipient of Thursday morning’s unwelcome surprise was City Commissioner Joe Carollo.

A process server who introduced himself as José Mejía said, “Joe Carollo, I have a summons of complaint for you to have you removed from office.”

“Sir, sir, please step away from the podium. That is not on the agenda,” a woman said. “If you are here to do a service of process, please do that, step to the side. Thank you.”

The process server appeared to leave documents on the podium before walking out.

Carollo said he didn’t hear what the man said but quickly found out it stemmed from a complaint, dated Jan. 18, to unseat him from his position in office.

The commissioner spoke with 7News outside the chambers, Thursday afternoon.

“And now is when they’re going to try to serve me? Illegally, in front of the commission, just for another show?” he said.

Carollo called the process server’s move a spectacle, adding he was never physically given any documents.

This latest summons follows Carollo’s loss in a multimillion-dollar civil lawsuit against Bill Fuller and Martin Pinilla, the owners of Ball & Chain in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood.

The battle between Carollo and the owners of the music and entertainment venue has been going on for years. In June of 2023, a federal jury found the commissioner liable for harassing Fuller and Pinilla and ordered him to pay $63.5 million in damages.

On Jan. 16, the owners of Ball & Chain, filed paperwork in court requesting Carollo to be removed from his position as the District 3 City Commissioner. The paperwork stated that Carollo intentionally violated their right to free speech.

But that’s not the way the commissioner sees it.

“Let’s just hope that all of you in the media would stop being used by these bar owners,” he said.

Following a federal order in January, a U.S. Marshals on Friday placed a notice on the front door of Carollo’s Coconut Grove home, the first part of the process to start repossessing his assets.

“They know well they cannot take my home,” said Carollo.

The commissioner indicated the property is protected under constitutional homestead.

“My attorney said this week we informed the Marshals, so that the Marshals cannot make any move unless a court now has to have a hearing,” he said, “and they can’t win a hearing because I have homestead in my property, just like the Constitution of Florida allows me and anybody else to have.”

But according to the county property appraiser, Carollo’s home on Morris Lane does not have homestead exemption.

“I wasn’t served today, number one. The Marshals did not seize my home last week like it was reported,” said Carollo.

Carollo previously told 7News that the courts have delayed his ability to fight this civil lawsuit against him, adding he has no plans to step down.

Once this reaches an appellate court, the commissioner said, it will go in his favor.

“I deserve due process, just like any other citizen of our country,” he said.

As of late Thursday night, Fuller and Pinilla have not commented about what happened at City Hall.

Pembroke Pines Police officers surrounded the residence, located along the the 1400 block of Lacosta Drive, Thursday morning.

SWAT teams also arrived at the scene at around 7:45 a.m. to aid in the situation.

A live shot of the area showed many police cruisers parked on the grass surrounding the property, as officers blocked off the community.

Hours later, when SWAT teams made entry into the garage, they found the man injured and transported him to the hospital.

Officials posted on X regarding this incident.

7News cameras captured first responders placing the husband into an ambulance. The woman was also transported to the hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.

According to investigators, the couples’ five children, whose ages range from 3 to 16, were also home at the time of the stabbing but were not physically injured.

“Our police department and the men and women who work for our agency are doing everything possible to offer resources and services for these children because of the situation that they are about to face,” said Pembroke Pines Police Capt. Adam Feiner.

Residents in the neighborhood were shocked when they heard what happened.

“I can’t believe it. I mean, it’s not something I could’ve seen happening. It’s still a shock for me,” said Peter Robinson, a family friend. “I can’t picture the reason for that. I can’t picture what would spark something like that, because they were such a loving family.”

Robinson, who is the godfather of one of the five children, said he’s known the family since the 1980s. He said he is the owner of the home that the family was living in.

“My wife already said, ‘If we, let’s say, for some reason, the parents can’t take care of them, and there is nobody else, we will take care of the kids,'” said Robinson.

The huge perimeter that was set up in the neighborhood was slowly disbanded.

Crime scene technicians were seen collecting evidence on the ground.

The husband has not been charged and remains at the hospital. His condition is unknown.

Police said no arrest has been made, and they are not looking for a suspect.

The scathing five-page report, released on Wednesday, shows a concerning trend at the seaquarium, indicating that, more than showing its age, it is a potential danger to animals and guests.

The seaquarium, which was the home of the killer whale known as Lolita for more than 50 years until the her death last August at 57, has recently been under fire by Miami-Dade County.

The USDA performed a routine check in October and found multiple violations, from inadequate housing for its marine mammals to a veterinary clinic overrun by ants.

Page 1 of the report states a sea lion waited weeks for cataract surgery. It reads:

“On 9/26/23, the medical record for ‘Sushi,’ an adult female California sea lion, stated that she had been holding her right eye closed and rubbing both eyes… By 10/15/23 and throughout the 3-day USDA inspection, she was completely refusing food, due to eye pain, per the medical records.”

USDA report

The housing for several animals was reported to be dangerous, but especially for a pair of dolphins: 30-year-old Ripley and 24-year-old Bimini.

The report states:

“On the morning of 9/22/23. one dolphin, ‘Ridley,’ housed at Flipper Stadium, presented to trainers with a two-inch nail, mangrove pods, and small pieces of shell in his throat. On the morning of 10/14/23, one dolphin, ‘Bimini,’ in Dolphin Harbor presented to trainers with a broken bolt in her mouth.”

USDA report

Back in January, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava pushed for a termination of the county’s lease with the seaquarium. At that time, seaquarium officials said they uphold “high standards of animal care.”

On Wednesday, around 9 a.m., Jude Faccidomo of Ratzan & Faccidomo LLC, an attorney for Kim Dewayne Clenney, 60, and Deborah Lyn Clenney, 57, spoke out to the public against the charges they are facing, saying they are being unfairly treated.

“Their daughter was in a very serious situation and in a fight for her life,” said Faccidomo.

Kim and Deborah were standing next to their attorney as they continued to support their daughter an stand up for themselves.

“They are not going to be bullied,” said Faccidomo.

Their attorneys claimed the police left the laptop behind after the murder because it was a shared device between Clenney and Obumseli.

“The arrest warrant in this case is incredibly troubling and, frankly, never should’ve been issued,” Faccidomo stated. “The access to the computer was part of defense of Courtney Clenney and was an authorized access. It does not fall within the parameters of the statute that they charged.”

Additionally, attorneys claimed the prosecution reviewed texts between the Clenneys and their attorneys, which laid out witnesses and their defense strategies.

“We will be taking all the steps necessary to review to make sure they follow the proper protocol,” said Sabrina Puglisi, Courtney’s attorney. “Otherwise, we are prepared to litigate and seek whatever sanctions are appropriate, including the recusal of the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office in Courtney’s case.”

The Clenneys went before a judge on the felony charges Tuesday before bonding out. The couple was seen holding hands after they were released from Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center after posting bond. They now have an open case in Miami-Dade for allegedly hacking into Christian Obumseli’s computer after their daughter, Courtney Clenney, murdered him on April 3, 2022.

Courtney remains in jail as she awaits trail for second degree murder. The Clenney’s were in possession of Obumseli’s laptop some time after Courtney’s arrest and have since been accused of successfully gaining unlawful access to the computer after getting help from their daughter.

All three are facing felony charges of unauthorized access or excessive access to a computer.

Kim and Deborah were interviewed by TMZ in January, having no idea that they would soon be facing charges in Miami.

“The prosecution plays dirty,” said Deborah. “Every word we say to each other is being recorded.

“They will do and say anything to to win this case,” said Kim.

7News captured exclusive video of the pair entering TGK in handcuffs, Tuesday morning. Later in the day, they faced a judge in bond court.

“Sir you were arrested for it says, ‘offenses against computer users,'” said Judge Mindy Glazer. “These are serious charges so it’s important that you stay in touch with our attorney.”

The Clenneys were previously taken into custody in Austin, Texas, last week on an out-of-state warrant issued by a Miami-Dade circuit judge. Following their surrender, the couple’s attorney released this statement:

On January 30th, Kim and Deborah Clenney were surprised in their home in Texas by Florida authorities executing an extradition warrant to place them under arrest and transport them back to Florida. Recognizing the absurdity and excessiveness of this action, a Texas judged ordered them released after two days. Today, Kim and Deborah voluntarily surrendered to the Turner Gilford Knight Correction Center in Miami Dade County, posted bond and are being released. They have both been charged with unlawful access to a computer. The allegations are frivolous and entirely without merit. The charge is such an overreach by law enforcement that it seems clear they are being targeted for being witnesses in their daughter’s case. This misuse of power and show of force is simply an attempt to bully them and scare them off from supporting their daughter, which will never happen.

Ratzan & Faccidomo

According to the corrections department, Kim and Deborah did not have any contact with their daughter while they were held in TGK.

The Clenney’s will be flying back to Texas, while their attorneys continue to fight the charges that they claim are baseless. The next hearing for them will be on Monday, but it is unclear if Kim and Deborah will be in attendance.

Exclusive 7News video showed Kim Dewayne Clenney, 60, and Deborah Lyn Clenney, 57, arriving at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center early Tuesday morning.

The two appeared in bond court, where their attorneys asked the judge to request corrections to allow them to bond since they’ve already posted their bond.

“Sir, you were arrested for, it says, offenses against computer users,” the judge said. “These are serious charges so it’s important that you stay in touch with your attorney.”

Their attorneys released the following statement to 7News:

On January 30th, Kim and Deborah Clenney were surprised in their home in Texas by Florida authorities executing an extradition warrant to place them under arrest and transport them back to Florida. Recognizing the absurdity and excessiveness of this action, a Texas judged ordered them released after two days. Today, Kim and Deborah voluntarily surrendered to the Turner Gilford Knight Correction Center in Miami Dade County, posted bond and are being released. They have both been charged with unlawful access to a computer. The allegations are frivolous and entirely without merit. The charge is such an overreach by law enforcement that it seems clear they are being targeted for being witnesses in their daughter’s case. This misuse of power and show of force is simply an attempt to bully them and scare them off from supporting their daughter, which will never happen.

Ratzan & Faccidomo

Both were previously taken into custody in Austin, Texas, on an out-of-state warrant. A Miami-Dade circuit judge signed arrest warrants for the couple last week, charging them each with a felony count of unauthorized access to a computer that once belong to their daughter’s boyfriend, Christian Obumseli.

Their daughter, 27-year-old Courtney Clenney, faces the same new charge. Jail records show she’s been held without bond on a second-degree murder charge since August 2022.

Clenney, who had used the name Courtney Tailor on such platforms as Instagram and OnlyFans, fatally stabbed Obumseli at the couple’s Miami apartment in April 2022 as the culmination of a “tempestuous and combative relationship” that began in November 2020, prosecutors said previously.

Clenney has acknowledged killing Obumseli but said she was acting in self-defense. Her attorney, Frank Prieto, previously said that Obumseli was regularly abusive.

An attorney for the Obumseli family released a statement following the arrest of Deborah and Kim:

“The Obumseli family is saddened to hear the reports that Courtney’s parents illegally took possession of Christian’s laptop. This is yet another disturbing reminder of the horrible crimes committed against their family. We support the State Attorney’s Office’s thorough investigation into Christian’s murder and continue to seek justice through the criminal and civil justice system. We are reserving further comment at this time until documentation about this arrest is released by law enforcement.

What cannot be forgotten is the daily pain felt by Christian’s loved ones because a smart, caring, critical member of their lives was stolen from them because of failures by his abuser, the One Paraiso apartment complex, and the other security and management companies who did not act to protect this innocent victim of domestic violence.”

Kimberly Wald

In January, the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office released a video of a confrontation between Courtney and Obumseli, showing the violent nature of their relationship. This incident was one of many caught on video before Courtney murdered the 27-year-old on April 3, 2022.

Clenney was arrested in Hawaii several days after the stabbing, but investigators believe she gave Obumseli’s computer to her parents some time between the killing and her arrest. According to the arrest warrants, detectives recovered text messages where the parents discuss trying to gain access to the computer. She is currently awaiting trail for murder.

Miami-Dade officials said the parents had no contact with their daughter during their time behind bars.

The attorney for the parents has scheduled a news conference on Wednesday morning. The Clenneys are expected to be there.