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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Miami Gardens Police and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to the 3800 block on Northwest 164th Street on Thursday after the teen was allegedly shot in the back.

The juvenile was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital Ryder Trauma Center. Police said he was conscious when he was taken to the hospital.

As of Friday, the teen remains at the hospital.

Detectives said they are looking for four people in connection to this shooting. They said the victim was with the four suspects when he was shot.

“We have four suspects, unknown the identification or the description of the four suspects. But one was believed to shoot the juvenile and he was then airlifted to Ryder Trauma,” said Miami Gardens Police Officer Diana Delgado.

7News cameras captured several evidence markers being placed in the area of the scene along with a scooter was on the ground. Doorbell security video captured the sound of gunshots going off as two people ran off.

A neighbor, speaking to 7News, said she helped the teenager after she heard him screaming.

“I heard someone yelling, ‘Help me, please help me.’ So I went back inside the house, grabbed my phone, called 911, and then I went to assist him,” said the woman who did not want to be identified. “He was on the phone with 911 and they were telling me to apply pressure until the police came and the ambulance.”

When she asked the teen who had shot him, he didn’t know.

“Horrifying. He looked helpless,” said the neighbor. “I’m a mother. If it was my child, I wouldn’t want him to be laying in the street somewhere, screaming asking for help, and no one wants to help him.”

As an investigation into this incident continues, authorities are asking the public to call police if they know anything about this crime.

The research has allowed doctors to precisely target cancer cells through genetic testing evaluating the cancer cells against more than 100 FDA-approved cancer drugs within a week. This turnaround would give oncologists a better idea of which treatment path could be more successful for their patients. FIU researchers, led by Diana Azzam, have opened a new frontier in targeted cancer therapy.

For the first time, this approach was successfully applied to pediatric patients facing hard-to-treat, recurring cancers — those who had exhausted all other treatment options.

One of the most heartening success stories to emerge from this research is that of 8-year-old Logan Jenner, who has been in remission for over two years.

He underwent chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant only to face the heartbreak of relapse. Jenner’s involvement in the study helped doctors create a new and improved treatment as researchers excluded a medication that had previously been toxic for him.

The Jenner family, along with doctors who aided in the study, spoke Thursday at the Academic Health Center at FIU’s Wolfson Campus where they discussed the research in a news conference.

“It’s a miracle and it has changed mine and my husband’s perspective on life,” said Diana, Logan’s mother. “It’s rewarding to see everything he does. He plays the violin and he does jujitsu. He’s just incredible. We think he’s gonna be lawyer, he talks back all the time about everything.”

The crowd filled with laughter as Logan rolled his eyes at his mother’s remark.

Dr. Maggie Fader with Nicklaus Children’s Hospital explained how she had to tell the news to Logan’s parents when he started to relapse after his session of treatments.

“We had to tell them that now that he’s already had everything that’s considered upfront standard of care and it’s come back, that there is a less than 30% likelihood that we will get him back into remission and get him here in the next three years.”

The trial by FIU at the hospital gave the family hope.

“Adding all these drugs directly onto the tumor cells will identify what works and what doesn’t on the patients cancer cells,” explained Dr. Azzam at the news conference. “So instead of doctors guessing to see what works and what doesn’t.”

Dr. Fadder said Logan’s professional health team worked on determining what works for him during the investigation process of the research.

“We used the best choices of what we saw in his treatment and then hoping that would get us a better outcome and eliminate some of the unnecessary treatments that don’t work,” she said.

Other patients that exhausted all other treatments saw similar results.

“With this remarkable ground-breaking work has not just has this remarkable result in Logan, but in 83% of the children that had their tissue advertised in this laboratory right here,” said Raymond Rodriguez-Torres with the Live Like Bella Foundation, the organization that helped fund FIU’s research.

The research done by FIU sparks a glimmer of hope in the horizon for science and cancer research.

“Perhaps if we, in the future, are able to test and we see upfront that drug X and Y don’t work in this patient’s cancer, we don’t offer that. We just go straight to what does work,” said Dr. Fader.

The work continues at FIU with ongoing pediatric and adult trials.

Margate Police and Fire Rescue units responded to a distress call along the 100 block of Northwest 79th Avenue, where the victim was found in a backyard swimming pool.

Police officers administered CPR on the toddler upon arrival, until paramedics arrived and took over.

A doorbell camera captured first responders whisking the boy away.

Friends Jake and Daniel, two local boys, said they were outside playing and witnessed the police response.

“I saw the police, they pulled up and they rushed in the house, they grabbed the baby out. It was, like, lifeless,” said Jake.

A loved one was seen running from the home, likely headed to the hospital.

Rescue crews rushed the patient to Broward Health Coral Springs where he was pronounced deceased.

As of late Tuesday night, there is no word on how the baby ended up in the pool, how long he’d been there, or who was taking care of him.

Later in the day, another loved one was taken to the hospital. It isn’t clear why.

And, as friends who had planned to visit Tuesday evening anyway began to gather, what is clear is that this is a family in tremendous pain.

On Wednesday morning, neighbors shared their condolences and dropped of flowers to the family.

“It’s, it’s maddening,” said a neighbor. “It’s maddening for, you know, the fact that, what happened, you know. How could it happen?”

They boy was identified by his grandfather as Legend.

A Gofundme was created by the family. If you’d like to donate, click here.

Police said that no charges are being filed at this time, as they continue to investigate.

Speaking at a news conference held Tuesday, Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam did not mince words about the possibility of a waste-to-energy facility that would include a trash burning incinerator being built next to the city.

“Our community has been here for decades. Don’t bring your trash to our backyard,” he said.

The county’s search for a new incinerator comes more than a year after a fire destroyed the previous facility in Doral, slashing the amount of trash that the count is capable of processing.

Back in February 2023, firefighters battled a four-alarm blaze for more than a week, causing nearby residents, especially those with respiratory ailments, to refrain from going outside due to the smoky conditions.

Since then, Miami-Dade has shortlisted a few potential sites as of last summer.

While no decision has been made about where to build the new site, Miramar officials fear it will land less than a mile away from West Miramar, at the Opa-locka West Airport, which raised concerns of environmental hazards and health complications in the community.

“There are nearly a quarter million Broward County residents within the direct vicinity that would be impacted by the construction of this site,” said Messam.

Environmentalists against the incinerator’s construction near the Everglades point out the concerns over local wildlife, including protected and endangered species. They also mention the threat to the region’s air and water quality.

“While this is an issue of where to build the incinerator, it’s also an issue of not building the incinerator at all,” said Anagha Iyer with the Broward Juniors Sierra Group.

“Studies have shown that the areas near waste incineration experience higher rates of cancer asthma and reproductive complications,” said Mackenzie Marcelin with Rising Florida, an organization that advocates for marginalized communities. “The burning of trash also releases harmful and toxic pollutants into the atmosphere affecting the respiratory, cardiovascular, immune and, like I’ve mentioned, reproductive and nervous systems of those who live nearby.”

Other municipal leaders in Broward standing alongside the residents closest to the proposed incinerator.

“We have to come up with viable solutions to that dynamic because it’s poisoning our water,” said Pembroke Pines Mayor Angelo Castillo. “It’s poisoning our land, our air, our lungs — it’s affecting our health. There has to be a better way to do it.”

“Incineration is not right right across the border. Incineration is not right anywhere,” said Southwest Ranches Mayor Steve Breitkreuz. “We’ve come a long way. There are better solutions and that’s where we need to be going.”

Miramar residents voiced their concerns to local leaders Tuesday morning.

“It’s completely intrusive to our community,” said residents Judy Jawer. “The air, the water, the environment, of course, in terms of the Everglades, but I’m considering what’s really going to happen, from a health standpoint, to the people around me.”

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has advocated for moving the facility to a county-owned airfield several miles from the Everglades, with the alternative locations in Doral and near the existing incinerator in Medley. No final decision on where to build the new incinerator has been made.

“Do the right thing and build this site on a more suitable site,” said Messam. “A site that has less impact on the environment, a site that impacts fewer people and a site that just makes sense.”

“If the waste-to-energy plant is not good for the residents of Doral, it’s not good for Miami-Dade County, then it is not good for the residents of the City of Miramar,” said Miramar City Commissioner Yvette Colbourne.

After the flames demolished the waste plant in Doral, the amount of trash processed by Miami-Dade County has been cut in half. Miami-Dade’s Public Works director resigned following the fire.

Tuesday afternoon, Levine Cava issued a statement about the proposed incinerator site. It reads in part.

“Our priority continues to be to minimize the impact of the facility’s operations to the community and the environment, as we prepare our community and our infrastructure for the future.”

Miami-Dade officials said they may reach a decision about where to build the facility at some point later this year.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A moment when darkness shines light.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Scheduled for Monday afternoon, this astronomical phenomenon, which we won’t see for another 20 years, is drawing attention across the region as various local museums hosting viewing parties and educational sessions.

“It’s all part of this learning experience,” said Jacob Bleacher, NASA’s chief exploration scientist, in an interview with 7News. “t’s a job, right? But at the same time, you take a breath, and you look around. You experience an event like this just like everyone around this area and along the path will do. I mean, it just drives home how important and exciting it is for us to understand our Earth — our Earth, moon and sun, our solar system — and the place that we have in it.”

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon positions itself between the Earth and the sun, casting a shadow over the planet and briefly darkening the sky. This rare occurrence allow stars to be visible during the day and offers a unique spectacle for observers.

“It’ll be night — bird will chirp, crickets will crick — and generally there will be a bit of a breeze created by the cool air next to the warm air. It’s fantastic,” said scientist, Bill Nye.

Although it will be a sight to see, viewers are cautioned against looking directly at the sun without specialized eclipse glasses, designed to protect the eyes of harmful rays.

The eclipse’s visibility in South Florida is expected between 1:48 p.m. and 4:14 p.m., with peak viewing around 3 p.m.

“In Miami, specifically, we’re going to have about 46% of our sun covered by the moon at the maximum eclipse around 3 o’clock,” said Alec Warren with the Frost Museum. “We’re gonna see a really nice half-crescent sun. It’ll look like a nice crescent moon in the night time sky, except it’ll be in the middle of the day. So you’re gonna see something that’s really quite fun and quite spectacular in its own right.”

Local institutions like the Frost Science Museum in Miami and the Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale are among the venues offering a chance to safely experience the event.

The Frost Science Museum is providing free eclipse glasses with ticket purchases, while the Museum of Discovery and Science enhances the experience with related shows in its GeoDome Planetarium and IMAX theaters.The Fox Observatory in Markham Park is setting up telescopes for an up-close look at the eclipse, starting at 1:30 p.m.

Over at Zoo Miami, the Southern Cross Astronomical Society of South Florida will have solar equipment arranged in front of the facility’s ticket office to capture the partial solar eclipse. Certified solar glasses will also be available at the zoo.

Animals in captivity will be observed by scientists during the solar eclipse as they are expected to act abnormally.

While South Florida won’t witness the total eclipse — a phenomenon reserved for a path stretching from southwest Mexico to Maine — the partial eclipse promises to be a significant event.

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

Indianapolis is one of the many a prime destination for those chasing the total eclipse, with the city near the path of totality experiencing a surge in visitors and fully booked hotels.

“Eclipses have been a source of inspiration in cultures around the world for thousands of years,” explained Warren. “We really like to highlight that within our programming and just in the shared experience of seeing this in action.”

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Crisis negotiators spent about four hours speaking with Smith.

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

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

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

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

T-Mobile released the following statement:

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

T-Mobile

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

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

The blaze, which erupted around 2:30 a.m. at the intersection of Southwest 50th Avenue and 34th Place, was brought under control by Davie Fire Rescue crews after several hours of firefighting efforts.

The salvage yard, known for housing a variety of industrial materials, vehicles and potentially hazardous chemicals, called for an abundance of caution from the fire department. Several fire trucks dispatched to the scene as a precaution against the risk of accelerants or chemicals that could cause more damageor explosions.

By approximately 5 a.m., the flames had been successfully extinguished, with firefighters wrapping up their operation. No one was injured in this blaze but three vehicles were damaged.

The cause of the fire is now under investigation.

The suspect was identified as 27-year-old Darnell Paul.

The incident began in the 2700 block of South State Road 7 around 11:52 p.m. when Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to reports of an armed robbery. The victim reported that a known individual carjacked her, leading to authorities to issue a Be-On-The-Lookout for the stolen vehicle and suspect.

Once officers found Paul, a pursuit began and extended into early Tuesday, involving both BSO and Miami-Dade Police officers. The chase led to a crash around 3 a.m. on the off-ramp of Interstate 95 at Miami Gardens Drive, where Paul barricaded himself.

“Detectives say through investigative methods, they were able to locate the vehicle and a pursuit ensued in both Broward and Miami-Dade counties,” said BSO’s Gerdy St. Louis.

Live video footage showed Paul as he was surrounded by law enforcement, including officers from the Special Response Team of the Miami-Dade Police Department.

7Skyforce captured the moments before he was arrested as a robot dog approached the vehicle to aid in the situation. Just before 9 a.m., the Special Response Team closed in on the car to open the driver-side door to arrest him as a sniper was spotted close by.

“This is one of the Miami-Dade Special Response teams. As they force the door and bring out a suspect here,” said 7Skyforce’ reporter Ralph Rayburn. “This is a gentlemen that may have been involved in a carjacking in West Park.”

As a result of this incident, all lanes of South I-95 were closed between Ives Dairy Road and the Golden Glades, creating a traffic nightmare for morning commuters, but they have since been reopened.

“Vehicle appears to have crashed into a tree. There was one person, that we know of, inside. That was the driver of the vehicle,” said Rayburn.

Warren, who works nearby, said he was affected by the incident.

“I had not seen that many police officers in a long time,” said Warren. “We were basically told that there was an armed suspect out on the street and they were trying to find him and we were basically shut out of all of our businesses until they could find whoever it was.”

Paul’s car was towed away.

Miami-Dade Police Department is the lead on this incident while Florida Highway Patrol troopers assisted with traffic.

Paul faces charges of armed carjacking, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and attempted murder in regards to BSO’s case.

MDPD have not disclosed any additional charges he may face.

According to BSO, Paul was previously arrested in Miramar after he barricaded himself on the balcony of a house and threatened to kill himself. He was released in March after the state declined to prosecute.

Detectives said Paul knew the owner of the vehicle he carjacked. Their relationship is unclear.

Paul remains behind bars at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

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

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

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

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

Once police arrived, they found the crime scene.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Now Mitchell has a message for the killer.

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

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

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

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

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

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

If you have any information on these deaths that could help investigators, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.

Speaking with 7News on Wednesday, Tonya Mitchell said she had to see her parents, Major and Claudette Melvin, in a funeral home.

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

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

“[I was told], ‘You need to get here, I think your parents have been murdered,'” she said. “I think I lost it.”

Major and Claudette, who were in their 80s, moved from Virginia in the 1970s and raised their children in their Fort Lauderdale home, located on Southwest 30th Terrace, near Seventh Street.

And it was inside their residence where, police said, the couple died. Detectives told family members that someone walked in through the front door and confronted Major.

“And when he got up, he got tangled up in the blanket, and they shot him point blank with a nine-millimeter,” said Mitchell.

The victim’s daughter said she was told her mother then entered from another room.

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

Mitchell said cash in the home wasn’t touched, and the culprit took off in the couple’s red Ford Fusion.

The grieving daughter said she has no idea why someone would kill Major, a retired county worker who still operated a backhoe, and Claudette, a retired housekeeper. The couple were the head of a large and loving family.

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

“Boy, I don’t know. I don’t understand it. I just cannot understand it,” he said. “If they came in to rob them, I don’t understand why they went in and started shooting. I’ve known them for 24 years that we’ve been here.”

Now Mitchell has a message for the killer.

“What were you looking for? You took nothing, but you killed them. Who does that?” she said. “I want that person to know they have parents as well, and when they do find you, which I hope they do before we do, you’re going to burn in hell.”

Police said the Melvins’ 2014 Ford Fusion has the Florida tag LTDQ16.

A GoFundMe has been created to help the family. Click here if you would like to donate.

If you have any information on these deaths that could help investigators, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.

Plantation Police units responded to the residence in the area of Northwest 97th Avenue and 10th Street in the Jacaranda Lakes neighborhood after receiving reports of two bodies found inside.

The victims were identified as 38-year-old Sara Ashley Gama and her 2-year-old son, Ethan Aponte.

Friends of the family said Ethan was turning 3 next week.

“He was a beautiful little boy,” said Gilda Howell. “I never heard anything — he was always outside, played all the time.”

Investigators also found an unconscious man at the scene, identified as 40-year-old Jean Carlos Aponte. He was transported to the hospital where he remains in critical condition, possibly due to a drug overdose.

Gama’s parents met police at the house. Officers went inside, and that’s when they knew something horrific had happened.

Investigators said a newborn baby was found alive at the home.

Detectives said they are eager to speak with Jean Carlos, hoping ha can shed light on what unfolded inside the house.

Neighbors of the family expressed shock and disbelief at the tragedy.

“That’s what I’d like to know, how does this happen? What happened? They played all the time,” said Howell. “I was across the street with the kids all the time ’cause they would go back and forth. This is a very friendly — I’m sorry, I’m just so devastated.”

Area resident John Goodish said the man in the home helped him out when he was unable to drive, and the families would socialize.

“This is beyond shocking. This is absolutely total shock,” said Goodish. “Round peg going in a square hole, does not fit at all. Nice couple. Me and my wife, we had dinner out, we had a nice dinner locally. So I’m just sitting in my chair right now going through my head going through everything. What happened?”

Neighbors said the couple recently had a baby boy who, they believe, is safe with other family members.

On Wednesday afternoon, video footage of the property showed Plantation Fire Rescue aiding officers in their investigation as they plunged into the canal behind the home, looking for evidence.

Details surrounding the incident remain limited, as the investigation is still in its preliminary stages.

Despite the ongoing investigation, authorities reassured the public that they are not actively looking for any suspects in connection with the incident.

Authorities arrived at the scene in the area of Northwest 97th Ave and Northwest 10th Street, Tuesday afternoon in Jacaranda Lakes.

According to police, a woman and child were found inside deceased by “traumatic means.”

Police said an unconscious male, identified as 40-year-old Jean Carlos Aponte, was transported to the hospital after he was found alive but possibly amid a drug overdose.

As of 10 p.m., the man was in the hospital. Police hope to speak to him as soon as they can. He was listed in critical condition.

On Wednesday, Plantation Police identified the identified as 38-year-old Sara Ashley Gama and her 2-year-old son, Ethan Aponte.

Investigators combed through the home as they focused on different areas such as the pool, which was blocked by a tarp.

Neighbors tried to make sense of what happened as they said the family appeared close and loving.

“That’s what I’d like to know, how does this happen? What happened? They played all the time,” said Gilda Howell. “I was across the street with the kids all the time cause they would go back and forth. This is a very friendly, I’m sorry, I’m just so devastated.”

John Goodish said the man in the home helped him out when he was unable to drive and the families would socialize.

“This is beyond shocking. This is absolutely total shock,” said Goodish. “Round peg going in a square hole does not fit at all. Nice couple. Me and my wife, we had dinner out, we had a nice dinner locally. So I’m just sitting in my chair right now going through my head going through everything what happened.”

Goodish said a few weeks ago, he asked the man to go to lunch.

“I asked him if he wanted to a beer, he said ‘Yeah, I’ll come get you.’ He was fine,” said Goodish.

Another neighbor said the incident is a reminder that some are struggling and in pain behind closed doors.

“Open communication, sympathy, empathy, caring, all that goes a long way,” said a woman.

Neighbors said that in addition to having a 2-year-old boy, the couple recently had a baby boy, and they believe he is safe with family.

7News cameras captured the medical examiner’s staff and investigators continuing their investigation late into the night. One body was removed on Tuesday night.

Police said they were not looking for any subjects as the incident came from the home. Authorities have not provided more information as of Wednesday as this homicide investigation is in its preliminary stages.

Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived at the scene of the shooting, located near a convenience store along the 1800 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, just after 5 p.m., Monday.

“In reference to a victim that is shot and we’re looking for the suspect who is currently on foot,” said a dispatcher over Broadcastify police scanner. “Aviation is en-route.”

According to officials, one of the victims, John Zetrenne Jr., was suffering from a gunshot wound when deputies arrived.

Zetrenne Jr. was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Three others were also shot and transported to local hospitals. Their conditions are unknown at this time.

Deputies told 7News that the group of four were out in front of one of the business in the area when another group approached them and began firing.

Zetrenne Jr.’s father took to Facebook to address his son’s death.

“Words can’t explain how I feel losing my first son…This hurts. I will give anything if I could have been there. Son I remembered the good times the bad times and all the times in between. I miss your presence, your voice, your laughter…RIP JR.”

The area where the four were shot has had a bloody past.

In July, 35-year-old Donelle Hunter was shot and killed by a gunman who was inside his truck. Twenty-four-year-old Jaquan Brown was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in that shooting.

Back in December, at the same corner, surveillance video captured a shootout, which unfolded between one man and a group of men after a verbal argument. Three people were hurt in that incident.

The latest shooting in Pompano Beach happened on Thursday when a 10-year-old boy was shot while walking to his home from the park.

Deputies said that he was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

As of Tuesday afternoon, police have not provided a description of the shooter or shooters, and what the motive is behind the shooting.

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

According to police, authorities responded to the hospital around 2:30 a.m. and found a man with gunshot wounds.

Investigators said they believe the man was shot near Northwest 12th Avenue and 71st Street when he drove himself to the hospital.

The man was listed in stable condition, stated officials.

Video footage showed a vehicle with several bullet holes and Miami Police cars stationed outside of the hospital blocked off with yellow tape. The car was eventually towed away.

Crime scene investigators were also at the scene to help figure out what unfolded.

It remains unclear what occurred regarding this situation but officials have been contacted for more information.

No arrest have been made.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The concerned parent said deputies knocked on her door.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Aerial footage from 7Skyforce showed a heavy police presence surrounding the hotel along Southeast 17th Street, just west of the causeway, approaching 15th Avenue, Thursday morning.

According to Fort Lauderdale Police Chief William Schultz, the incident began around 7:39 a.m. when police were notified via a text to 911 of a suspicious incident.

“The caller reported that he had killed someone inside the hotel room,” said Schultz.

When officers attempted to make contact with the suspect, investigators said, they were met with gunfire.

“Shots were fired at the officers at that time. Our officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect, at which time the suspect barricaded himself in that same room,” said Schultz.

Investigators said an officer was hit and rushed to the hospital.

“Coming in as a shooting call. It’s gonna be for an officer down,” a dispatcher was heard saying in radio transmissions.

“Look at this [expletive], bro. Like, look,” a man is heard saying in cellphone video showing a Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue ambulance pulling into the hotel.

Thankfully, the officer’s injuries were not life-threatening.

Back at the hotel, police called in the department’s SWAT unit.

“A SWAT call was initiated and entry was made. The suspect was discovered dead inside the room,” said Schultz.

FLPD identified the suspect as 46-year-old Karl Chludinsky of Margate.

Police said that no one else was inside the room at the time of the shooting.

The injured officer was transported by FLFR to Broward Health Medical Center, where he was treated and released. A second officer suffered minor injuries unrelated to gunfire and was treated on the scene by FLFR. Both officers are adult males.

The shooting takes place as college students descend on Fort Lauderdale Beach to enjoy spring break. The hotel, located blocks away from the sand, was far from empty at the time of the incident.

Two young men who are staying at the hotel spoke with 7News hours after the incident.

“We thought that someone was banging on our door. We heard it, we jumped on the floor, and we just laid there,” said a guest.

“Just gunfire, just, ‘boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom,'” said the other guest.

Before they cleared and reopened the busy road, police towed a white pickup truck from the hotel’s parking lot.

In total, three Fort Lauderdale Police officers fired their duty weapons in response to the incident. All three will be placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is now investigating the incident.

The pursuit began around 2 a.m. on Thursday and originated several miles south in Miami-Dade County, escalating into a multi-hour chase across county lines.

Video footage captured the moment multiple police vehicles strategically positioned themselves across the northbound lanes of the highway, ad officers attempted to stop the fleeing driver’s progress.

Authorities were alerted to the situation after receiving reports of a potentially stolen Chevy being pursued by law enforcement officers.

Additional video footage showed the female driver getting handcuffed by authorities and taken to the back of a police cruiser.

Specific charges against the driver remain unclear, and details regarding the unfolding of the incident have yet to be fully disclosed.

7News has contacted Miami-Dade Police for more information.

Wednesday’s meeting, taking place at the Kathleen C. Wright Building in Fort Lauderdale, comes in the wake of alarming incidents that have escalated concerns about security.

School officials, including BCPS Superintendent Dr. Peter Licata, board members Dr. Allen Zeman and Brenda Fam, and safety director James La Rosa reacted during the meeting regarding the new measures.

“It’s not the end all, be all, answer all, it really isn’t, but it does keep that child who’s bringing in a weapon from home or from the neighborhood,” said Licata. “Remember, we don’t have them on campus; they come in from outside. It does give them twice thought of, ‘Wait a second, I don’t want to go to jail or ruin my life by bringing a weapon on campus.”

The board finalized a plan to install metal detectors at 31 district high schools and six K-12 centers. The initiative is set to kick off with a pilot program this summer at two schools, laying out the groundwork for a broader application that encompass 31 campuses throughout Broward County.

J.P. Taravella High School and Charles W. Flanagan High School are the two schools that will be in the pilot program starting in the summer.

Speaking with reporters, Licata said the eight other schools will be decided on in the next two weeks.

“It’s long overdue in my eyes,” he said. “This was one of the tasks I did that I personally wanted to do.”

Some students said the idea is smart.

“I think that’s very smart, because that’s going to prevent all of, like, in-school weapons and stuff,” said one student.

District members moved quickly to implement these new measures after two disturbing events in January where loaded firearms and illicit substances were discovered on school premises, notably at Deerfield Beach High School and Stranahan High School, leading to the arrest of three students.

“Our children don’t feel safe, our parents don’t think that our kids are safe,” said Zeman. “This is a critical step in the right direction.”

“We’ve all looked into this, we’ve done the research,” explained La Rosa in the board meeting. “I think we’re all pretty confident in what we have before you today.”

In an effort to prevent such incidents, the district had previously intensified its security measures by introducing random checks.

“Broward County Schools Police wants to remind you about our random metal detection screening program, which is intended to decrease the number of weapons and dangerous objects brought onto school campuses,” stated an educational video from the district’s police department.

The meeting addressed the procurement of CEIA OpenGate systems for the initial 10 schools, with a budget of $540,000 set aside for this purpose. The selection of this system follows a review by the district after its usage across dozens of Florida school districts, with an equal amount considering its adoption.

But not all board members were on board with the idea.

“I can’t condone a test pilot of something that I haven’t seen the car driven,” said Fam during the board meeting. “I don’t know anything about it, that you’re telling me to go by what the salesperson says.”

The overall cost of the safety upgrade is estimated to be over $1.8 million. The strategy would equip every entrance at the designated high school and centers with metal detectors.

“We want children to think twice about that; it’s not show and tell,” said Licata. “Some kids bring them on just to show off. No, this is not the time or place.”

Licata and staff will be back in front of the board for a workshop at the end of April to discuss and select the other right schools where the metal detectors will be installed.

Public schools in Miami Dade County use a mobile detection unit that searches for metal objects and weapons in schools. All schools in the county are subjected to random inspections.

In a statement, a spokesperson with Miami-Dade County Public Schools wrote:

“While there are no permanent metal detectors, MDCPS has a random metal detection program that is conducted by a Metal Detection Team. All Miami-Dade public schools are subject to a visit by a Metal Detection Team for a random inspection.”

M-DCPS

The accident, which occurred at 9471 Sterling Road just after 8 a.m. Monday, prompted an immediate response from Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue and Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies. When first responders arrived at the scene, they reportedly found an injured young man.

Paramedics transported the juvenile to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries.

7Skyforce was over the scene capturing a significant amount of blood on the road, alongside scattered notebooks.

According to detectives, the preliminary investigation reveals the driver of the red 2022 Tesla Model X was traveling Eastbound on Stirling Road, when the teen on the standup electric scooter, entered the roadway and began to cross Stirling Road Northbound diagonally. The red Telsa sustained considerable front-end damage with a dented hood and a broken front window. The driver of the Tesla remained on the scene.

The investigation reveals the teen was not in a designated crosswalk as he crossed Stirling Road.  

Broward County Public Schools said the child who was struck is an 11th grader at Cooper City High School.

Another collision in Miami-Dade a young man was fatally struck by a car as he jaywalked after getting of the bus. Despite medical personnel’s best efforts, he did not survive.

As a result of this incident in Broward County, Sterling Road is shut down in both directions between Palm Avenue and Southwest 90th Avenue.

The Broward Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit responded to investigate what led to the collision.

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

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and Miami Gardens Police Department were at the intersection of Northwest 183rd Street and Northwest 47th Avenue where a vehicle was stopped in the middle of the road.

According to officials, a group of juveniles exited a school bus and crossed the street together. As they approached the middle of the road, some of the young students stopped while the male juvenile ran before getting struck by a car.

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

The driver reportedly remained on the scene and cooperated with investigators.

North Gardens High School Principal, Dr. Laura Vega released a statement to parents and students following the news of the student’s death.

Over in Broward County, a Cooper City High School student was left with life-threatening injuries after he was struck by a Tesla.

According to BSO detectives, the preliminary investigation reveals the driver of the red 2022 Tesla Model X was traveling Eastbound on Stirling Road, when the teen on the standup electric scooter, entered the roadway and began to cross Stirling Road Northbound diagonally.

The red Telsa sustained considerable front-end damage with a dented hood and a broken front window. The driver of the Tesla remained on the scene.

Detective Diana Gourgue stated that the students did not cross a proper crosswalk and they crossed in the middle of the intersection while it was still dark outside.

“They did not go to a traffic light,” she said.

As of now, the driver is not being charged.

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

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

Cellphone video captured City of Miami Fire Rescue crews pulling the victim out of the water, Sunday afternoon.

“The area where this all took place is right as you’re approaching the Brickell Bridge,” said Miami Fire Rescue Capt. Ignatius Carroll. “Obviously, since it’s St. Patrick’s Day, they had a lot of boating traffic.”

Officials said the incident happened at around 3:30 p.m. A group of people on the charter boat called 911 after they saw one of their passengers go overboard.

“She said that she saw [the passenger] fall over, and as they attempted to turn the boat around, they saw another boat that may have struck [the passenger],” said Carroll.

When paramedics arrived, officials said, witnesses pointed out where the passenger, who 7News has learned is in their mid-20s, fell.

Although the water was deep, rescue divers were able to find the person quickly and pull them out.

More cellphone video shows first responders immediately starting CPR.

Paramedics transported the victim to Ryder Trauma Center in extremely critical condition.

As of late Sunday night, it’s unknown whether or not anyone will face any charges.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating the incident.

The incident, which occurred just after midnight Friday, at the 14500 block of Southwest 24th Street, has led to a thorough investigation to uncover what happened.

7Skyforce hovered above the alleged crime scene where there was blood on the floor of what appeared to be the front porch of a house in the area. Video footage of the scene also captured investigators focused on a black Ford Fusion in the driveway of the home.

Neighbors said they’ve never seen the car before and heard gunshots ringing out.

“My daughter heard them saying, ‘Don’t move, don’t move,’ and right behind that, that’s when we heard the gunshot shooting,” said a woman, “But my son said he heard one gunshot, then a constant shooting after that; that was it. My daughter screams, dropped to the floor because her bedroom was in front with her baby, and she just said, ‘Mama, hit the floor, hit the floor,’ because I was like, ‘Is that gunshots ringing that I’m hearing?’ I couldn’t believe it.”

Initial reports confirmed that Davie Police officers responded to a medical call for a resident.

Police said responding officers were confronted by a man, at which time shots were fired, and the man was struck.

No officers were injured in this incident.

“Stuff happens all over the place. They take care of what they have to take care of and see what’s going on,” said a neighbor. “It’s a very quiet neighborhood, it’s a great neighborhood — families and everything, kids. Never had a problem like this. It’s normally very quiet. This is all new to us.”

The suspect was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has taken on the investigation, as they work with Davie Police to gather evidence regarding this incident.

Authorities said the three police officers who were involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave pending further investigation.

Police have not disclosed the deceased man’s identity pending next-of-kin notification.

Lopez-Escobar, identified as the driver during the second encounter with police, faces charges for operating a vehicle with a counterfeit license plate, resisting an officer without violence and driving without a valid driver’s license.

The arrest occurred after police conducted a traffic stop Wednesday, around 1:30 p.m. at the 300 block of Sunny Isles Boulevard, on a 2022 Mercedes Benz displaying a license plate that falsely claimed diplomatic status.

When officers approached the vehicle, Lopez-Escobar reportedly refused to comply with officer’s commands to lower the window of the vehicle, which had heavily tinted glass that obscured the interior view.

Officials said after Lopez-Escobar cracked open the window slightly, they continued their verbal commands to open his window. He then reportedly began to move the vehicle forward, leading to officers physically intervening to prevent his departure.

After Lopez-Escobar put the car in park, he refused to exit the vehicle when officers opened the driver-side door. This led to the use of “minimal force” from police officers before taking the driver into custody. The entire ordeal was captured on cellphone video as Cecilia Mercado, the woman who was arrested for a similar incident, and Scott Huss, Mercado’s boyfriend, were sitting in the back seat.

This unfolding situation began when Mercado was initially stopped by police for ignoring a “Right Turn Only” sign. She was forcibly removed from her vehicle after she claimed “sovereign citizenship” and refused to cooperate with officers’ request. Her subsequent arrest was captured on cellphone video and shared online, drawing local attention.

Both incidents were shared on social media platforms as they showed the police encounters. Additionally, both traffic stops led to an investigation involving the U.S. Department of State.

Officials stated that the tag assigned to both vehicles were different, confirming suspicions of a counterfeit tag. A special agent with the Department of State said that the license plates did not conform to valid diplomatic tags, which typically feature a combination of letters and numbers.

Mercado says she plans on taking legal action against the police department.

Lopez-Escobar was transported to Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center following his arrest. His bond was set for $2,500 for the counterfeit license plate and additional bonds for other charges.

On Thursday afternoon, he remained behind bars on an immigration hold.

The incident, captured in cellphone video sent to 7News, has prompted the police department to clarify the circumstances surrounding the arrest.

Cecilia Mercado, 32, was pulled over by police officers for ignoring a “Right Turn Only” sign in a high-traffic area known for frequent accidents. The video showed the officer forcibly pulling her out of the car, Tuesday, after she didn’t cooperate.

“Please bring your supervisor now!” the man who was in the car with Mercado said in the video. “I feel threatened.”

Despite initially being stopped for traffic violations, the situation escalated when Mercado claimed to have “sovereign citizenship” and refused to comply with the officers’ request for her identification and insurance documents.

A video circulating online shows a portion of the interaction, missing the critical moment when Mercado rolled up her car window as officers were asking for her ID and insurance, police said. This led to the police legally taking her from the vehicle and placing her in handcuffs.

“She is not a United States citizen. They have no jurisdiction over you,” continued the visibly irate man. “You are going to get fired from your job and she’s going to get $250,000 for winning in court. If you want to play, I will see you in court.”

Footage of the arrest exhibited Mercado falling to the ground as officers continued to pull her out of the car. She appeared visibly shocked.

“Cessy, I’m sorry,” said the man.

The man behind the camera is Mercado’s boyfriend. He also claims to be a non-citizen national with “diplomatic immunity.”

“All you had to do was comply,” said one officer.

“I did, I gave you my…” said Mercado.

“No, you did not. No, you did not,” said the officer.

Mercado said she gave them her passport, but an officer stated that was not a driver’s license.

Officials said she was originally cited for a traffic violation and was then released, but further investigations revealed that she had a counterfeit diplomatic tag. This led police to put out a “be on the lookout” alert for Mercado, leading to her subsequent re-arrest.

“The City of Sunny Isles Beach Police Department remains committed to making our streets safe for drivers and pedestrians,” stated the department in a release.

7News was the only station there as Mercado was taken to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in West Miami-Dade. She faces felony charges related to the counterfeit license plate, with a bond set at $2,500.

Scott Huss, the man who recorded Mercado’s arrest, spoke to 7News outside of the jail.

“He unlocked the car, opened the car door, and grabbed Cessy by the arm,” he said. “Her immunity is 100% authentic. The specifics can’t be disclosed on public interview, however, the court case and the federal lawsuit will be public. They have no jurisdiction over you. She is not a United States citizen.”

Huss continued to comment on Mercado’s arrest saying, “Nothing should get to the point where somebody is dragging somebody out of a vehicle for a wrong left turn.”

The 32-year-old woman, born in New York, has since posted bond, and was released from jail on Wednesday, where 7News cameras captured Mercado walking out of jail.

“They are not fake. They are completely registered to my private trust and my vehicle, which by law, you are allowed to have a vehicle underneath the trust,” said Mercado.

According to the arrest report, the U.S. Department of State told police that Mercado’s car had a fake diplomatic license plate. When asked about her claims to diplomatic immunity, Mercado doubled down.

“I’m a non-resident alien, and there was nothing wrong with my plates. They have unlawfully detained me,” said Mercado.

Fresh off her bond out, the couple took another ride as they left TGK in a Mercedes Maybach with an unusual looking tag.

But before they could get home from jail on Wednesday afternoon, Mercado had another encounter with police, minutes after she appeared on an Instagram Live where she spoke to her fans from the backseat of the Mercedes Maybach.

“This is why you have to become a non-citizen national, so you don’t have to worry about paying taxes, and you get your business right,” said Mercado on social media.

The Maybach also had a diplomat-labeled license plate. Police stopped the car along the 300 block of Sunny Isles Boulevard.

Video posted by Only In Dade shows the driver of the Maybach being arrested for allegedly driving with a fake license plate.

Another video shows the second encounter with police from inside the Maybach , which was posted on social video Wednesday. It shows police, with their guns drawn, telling the driver of the Maybach to step out of the car. Police told 7News the driver didn’t have a driver’s license either.

The driver has been identified as 22-year-old Andres Lopez. He was taken to the Miami-Dade Police Department as authorities sorted out his identity.

Another video shows Mercado and her boyfriend stranded, with no ride, and speaking to police near where they were stopped a day earlier.

Mercado and her boyfriend said their diplomat license plates are legitimate, and they have lawyers who are prepared to take action against the police department.

“I look forward to sharing my story in court and not being treated like a savage ever again,” said Mercado.

The city, now at the peak of its spring break period, introduced a string of regulations aimed at preventing the recurrence of last year’s chaos that led to two deadly shootings. After years of unruly crowds, the city finally decided to break-up with spring break in 2024.

“If you come to our city, we want you to really enjoy it, but you must be lawful,” said Miami Beach Police Officer Christopher Bess, who spoke to 7News on Sunday as the night was relatively calm.

According to Miami Beach Police, there have been around 153 spring break-related arrests from March 1 to 10.

This year, the Miami Beach Police Department, along with 18 other state and federal agencies, took to the streets to manage the influx of spring breakers. Enhanced measures include DUI checkpoints, barricades for crowd control and an increase in parking fees. Parking garages were also shut down to discourage excessive traffic in certain areas.

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

The first high-volume weekend under the new regulations ended without any reported shootings and stampedes. Although the streets seem safer, business owners spoke to 7News on Sunday and stated that their businesses are being affected by the new safety regulations.

“I’ve spoken with other business owners, one who claims her business is down 80%,” said Mitch Novick, the owner of the Sherbrooke Hotel. “Another, a friend who’s a hotelier up the street, [says] the inability for guests to park is very disruptive.”

As seen over the weekend, some of the measures that have been working are the towing fees that has nearly tripled.

“It’s a big crowd. There’s no chaos this time,” said Cort Fort, who is visiting from Houston.

Every year, thousands are drawn to the Miami Beach during spring break, but visitors said this year is different.

“Now it’s more chill, not as much people,” said a woman.

“We are the crazy spring breakers, but we are not the ones that do the extra,” said a man.

City officials remain hopeful that the rest of the spring break season will continue to unfold smoothly. Next weekend is the last major weekend of spring break.

The safety measures are expected to end at the end of March.

The shooting occurred along Northwest 179th Terrace near Northwest Sixth Avenue, leading authorities to surround their investigation on two vehicles about a block away from one another.

Although the call originally came in as a shooting, another incident, just a few blocks away at the 18000 block of Northwest Sixth Place, detailed an incident involving a pedestrian being hit. It remains unclear if the two are connected.

Police confirmed that a woman, involved in one of the incidents, was airlifted to Aventura Hospital from the area.

“This one is related to a rescue call and said she’s been shot in the leg,” said a dispatcher on police radio.

Though dispatchers talked to police officers over dispatcher radio, it remains unclear what the woman’s connection is in these incidents.

Further details have not been provided at this time and officials are expected to release more information as the investigation progresses.

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

Cleanup was underway on Wednesday afternoon after inclement weather caused the timber to collapse along the 1300 block of Campo Sano Avenue, causing damage on the way down.

The tree, located just across the street from the University of Miami, fell onto the road while limbs and bark crashed onto a home, causing damage to the family’s car. Homeowner Zina Salman said it is a total loss.

Salman said it sounded like a bomb went off when the tree toppled over. Although much of her property was damaged, she is thankful that her family was uninjured.

“I was shaken. It felt like an explosion. We were sleeping, about 4:30 a.m., it was loud, pretty scary. We have two kids. They woke up and were scared,” said Salman.

The tree reportedly fell above the master bedroom of the home.

“The roof is solid, it seems it’s solid, otherwise I could’ve probably been dead now without knowing,” said Salman. “It’s amazing that we take life for granted.”

Crews were seen Wednesday cleaning up debris and chopping the tree down.

The family is now dealing with next steps in their insurance policy.

According to the city, the tree was part of a piece of land that is owned by Coral Gables.

It remains unclear whether the family will get compensated for the costs of the damages.

As for the bad weather, Coral Gables saw over an inch and a half of rain on Wednesday.

A street flood advisory that was impacting Coral Gables to Pinecrest has expired as the rain has moved offshore.

The high-speed collision happened near North Miami Avenue and 79th Street, leaving significant damage on the vehicle.

This incident reportedly started around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday following reports of a stolen vehicle which led to police pursuing the BMW.

Video footage captured the arrest after the driver fled on foot. He was apprehended a few blocks away from the gas station in a nearby alleyway.

“He crashed into the [concrete barrier] right there and he looked like he was pushing the car,” said one female witness. “Then he ran off that way [towards the alleyway] really fast.”

Authorities are currently investigating this incident. Miami Police and Miami-Dade Police have been contacted for more information.

The driver’s identity has not been disclosed.

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

Miami Gardens Police responded to the area of Northwest 199th Street and Seventh Avenue on Monday, just after 2 a.m., when four men reportedly pulled up in a dark SUV, exited the car and started shooting before taking off.

Footage from the scene showed several evidence markers on the street, along with K-9 units sniffing out the vicinity for more evidence.

One woman who lives on the street said she thought she was in a war zone.

“[I heard] I think at least 20 [gunshots],” she said. “It sound like [a back and forth]. It was very scary. The first thing I did was go to the floor.”

Two women were allegedly rushed to Aventura hospital as a trauma alert. A third victim was also involved in this incident.

Meanwhile, in another area of Miami Gardens, police responded to another shooting in the area of Northwest 211th Street and 38th Avenue where one person was shot and taken to the hospital.

Video footage from around 1 a.m. Monday showed an active police scene in the neighborhood. About half a dozen police vehicles were on the scene as a black SUV was towed away.

According to police, the gunshot victim was inside the black SUV at the time of the drive-by shooting. The shooter from the drive-by car reportedly fired several shots.

One victim was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital where their condition is unknown.

As these investigations remain active, it is unclear whether this separate shootings are connected.

If you have any information on either of these crimes, 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.

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

Proposed measures by officials to keep Miami Beach safe went into effect on Friday.

“The strictest measures we’ve ever implemented in the name of public safety,” said Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner.

March is synonymous with spring break in Miami Beach.

Spring breakers arrived with their bags, ready to have some fun in the sun.

Leanne and her girls are on vacation from the United Kingdom, but safety is on their mind.

“We have each other’s locations, we won’t travel too far, stay in groups, not get too drunk, [definitely] have a good time,” she said.

But this year, officials are doing everything they can to stop the widely documented from past years.

In the last few years, spring break has been overrun by shootings, stampedes and all around bad behavior.

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

The goal for officials this month is to break up spring break as the city enforces new rules.

Residents in the area are happy these rules will take place.

“Absolutely, absolutely,” said resident Steve Polycarp. “I can walk on the street at 1 o’clock and not have to fear if a bottle being thrown at my head or just like crazy, crazy things, unexpected things to happen, like walking on the street. Now, I feel the measures are necessary, very necessary.”

Part of the new measures include limiting beach access with security checkpoints that will go on the sand, an increase in parking fees for non-residents, changing traffic patterns to help reduce traffic impacts south of Fifth Street and adding a DUI checkpoint along the 400 block of Fifth Street.

There will also be a towing fee that will double to $516 for non-residents.

During March 7-10 and 14-17, the following rules will be in effect in South Beach:

• Parking garages closed
• $100 flat fee rate for parking
• Police will use license plate readers along the Julia Tuttle And MacArthur causeways
• No sidewalk seating for cafes along Ocean Drive

The nearest parking garage that will remain open on those dates will be at 42nd Street and Sunset Harbor, but those will still cost $100.

When asked whether she thinks this rate is reasonable, a woman replied, “No, not at all.”

However, parking does not impact residents of Miami Beach or people who drive there for work. They will be required to show proof.

The new rules are a bittersweet sacrifice for businesses in the area.

“We don’t make money, so it’s not safe, and people don’t want to come South Beach. It’s different from nine years ago,” said Angel Lam, a bar manager. “It’s better for us. It’s more safety for us. More cops, more security, it’s better for us.”

Gino, who works for security a few doors down from Lam, thinks that the measures might be too much.

“What is it, it makes it to where, to me, it’s uncomfortable. You don’t know how much fun you can have, you know?” he said. “Nobody wants to break a law or do something that makes them look bad, so they’re just chilling, in my opinion.”

Business owners at Sunset Harbour Shops echoed Gino’s concerns.

“It is not fair, it’s not right, and it’s not community driven,” said a store employee.

“On top of the $34 class fee when they’re here, so it really doubles their class costs, making it really untenable,” said a fitness studio employee.

Business owners worry what these measures will mean for their bottom line.

“We fully appreciate the initiatives that they’re putting into place, and we understand why they’re doing it,” said the fitness studio employee. “I feel like they just are a little bit short-sighted, and they didn’t fully think it through.”

“It’s really going to hurt the people that are here to support the community and to really participate in the growth and the businesses here in Sunset Harbour,” said the store employee.

These business owners said they tend to make up revenue in March for the money lost during slower summer months.

“Why not have every business have a set of stickers that you could then validate? Showing that you’re a paying customer, and then get the normal parking rate for everyone that comes here every single day and supports all of our businesses and supports the local economy,” said the fitness studio employee.

But Meiner said city officials have taken these steps because they deem them necessary.

“This is shared sacrifice that we do in the name of public safety,” he said. “If we don’t do this, we’ll continue hurting our brand, we’ll continue hurting our ability to be a safe and welcoming tourist destination, and so, if this is the sacrifice we have to make for one year to free us from the mystery, the loss of life, the impact on our economy that spring break causes, well, then, it’s a good investment for the long term of our community.”

Also taking place this weekend in South Florida is Carnaval on the Mile in Coral Gables. Miracle Mile will be closed down for local art, live music and plenty of fine food for the 25th anniversary of the event.

Spectators could also expect to see camera crews and closures on Southwest Second Avenue and Second Street as filming for “Bad Boys 4” continues with stars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.

“Will Smith has loved Miami for the last 25 years, so to be able to be out here and see him shooting movies, I feel like Miami is becoming the new Hollywood,” said William Ripley.

Regardless of how people feel about the new measures, everyone wants the same thing: a safe spring break.

“No funny business, none whatsoever,” Polycarp said. “Like Allstate, the tourists are in good hands.”

Tourists and residents are also being reminded to use the Miami Beach trolley service, which will be operating on an enhanced schedule.

For more information on the city’s safety measures, click here.

Oscar Nicolas Olea, 38, appeared before a judge, Thursday.

“Sir, you were arrested for two separate cases pursuant to an arrest warrant, you’re charged with improper sexual activity with a child,” said Judge Mindy S. Glazer.

During his court appearance, Judge Glazer ordered that Olea be held with no bond. He was also ordered to stay away from the victims and cannot have any unsupervised contact with children under 18 years old.

Allegations of sexual abuse caught up with Olea more than a decade later.

“I can confirm for you that we do have an active and ongoing criminal investigation with the Miami Dade Police Department and the [Miami-Dade] State Attorney’s Office,” said Key Biscayne Police Chief Francis Sousa.

He was arrested on Wednesday and was charged with sexual misconduct, which stemmed from when he was a coach at a Key Biscayne gym back in the early 2000s.

“Apparently, it was reported on Jan. 31, 2014,” said Beatriz Llorente, an attorney. “This is all led by a Miami Herald reporter who has been very, very vocal in the news and getting her name in the paper regarding the story, so I’m asked, your honor, to look at that. The alleged victim on one them said that, you know, that she didn’t want to get involved and then six months later, she said she wants to get involved.”

Those charges were never brought following those allegations, but a Miami Herald investigation recently uncovered claims of child rape and molestation of young girls and teens.

Key Biscayne residents earlier in February, voiced their frustrations to the police chief during a town hall held earlier this month to discuss concerns about Olea.

“Nothing has been done for 10 years!” said a resident.

“If this happened to your daughter or your granddaughter, even if she was involved in the gym, you would do everything [in] your 30 years of police experience to get to the very bottom of this,” said another resident.

Now, in 2024, the two victims, who are both adults now, have stepped forward and are claiming they were repeatedly abused more than a decade ago as teens.

“Allegations from 2011 and 2012,” said Glazer.

According to one affidavit, “The Victim stated he enticed her into getting closer to him as someone she could trust; he would tell her, ‘You’re my best friend,’ and, ‘You’re my sister, and I’m your brother.’ The Victim stated the Subject made her feel comfortable.”

The investigation revealed that some of the sex crimes allegedly happened just off a portion of Crandon Boulevard, in an old apartment belonging to the suspect, but he allegedly struck elsewhere, like at gymnastics facilities where parents sent their young daughters to be coached.

One affidavit states, “The Subject placed mats, cones and other objects against the wall to conceal them from the view of the public.”

The accusers said their coach was manipulative and got them to see him as a friend or guardian prior to the alleged monstrous behavior.

One affidavit states, “During the classes, the Subject held the Victim’s hand and told her that he would love her, they would be together, her age didn’t matter, and they would be married.”

According to The Miami Herald’s report, there were at least two other accusers going back 12 years. While their families filed complaint, no charges were filed and no arrest was made back then.

Sousa, who did not want to do an on-camera interview, said that anybody who has been a victim or might know a victim is urged as soon as possible to come forward to Key Biscayne Police.

The judge prohibited Olea from having contact with the victim and denied him bond.

Olea’s next court hearing will be held on Friday, where a judge will hear arguments for his release.

Oscar Nicolas Olea was arrested on Wednesday, following an investigation conducted by multiple law enforcement agencies.

“I can confirm for you that we do have an active and ongoing criminal investigation with the Miami Dade Police Department and the [Miami-Dade] State Attorney’s Office,” said Key Biscayne Police Chief Francis Sousa.

Key Biscayne residents said this arrest was a long time coming. They vented to the police chief during a town hall held earlier this month to discuss concerns about Olea.

“Nothing has been done for 10 years,” said a resident.

“If this happened to your daughter or your granddaughter, even if she was involved in the gym, you would do everything [in] your 30 years of police experience to get to the very bottom of this,” said another resident.

According to police, the investigation, initiated in September 2023, led to the discovery of additional victims. As a result, investigators conducted numerous interviews, establishing probable cause for the arrest.

An arrest warrant was granted, and Olea, 38, voluntarily surrendered to authorities.

The suspect was also the subject of a Miami Herald investigation that began in late 2023. It uncovered claims of child rape and molestation reportedly going back over a decade.

The state’s criminal case says two victims, both of them adults now, claim they were repeatedly abused more than a decade ago as teens.

One affidavit states, “The Victim stated he enticed her into getting closer to him as someone she could trust; he would tell her, ‘You’re my best friend,’ and, ‘You’re my sister, and I’m your brother.’ The Victim stated the Subject made her feel comfortable.”

The investigation revealed that some of the sex crimes allegedly happened just off a portion of Crandon Boulevard, in an old apartment belonging to the suspect, but he allegedly struck elsewhere, like at gymnastics facilities where parents sent their young daughters to be coached.

One affidavit states, “The Subject placed mats, cones and other objects against the wall to conceal them from the view of the public.”

The accusers said their coach was manipulative and got them to see him as a friend or guardian prior to the alleged monstrous behavior.

One affidavit states, “During the classes, the Subject held the Victim’s hand and told her that he would love her, they would be together, her age didn’t matter, and they would be married.”

According to The Miami Herald’s report, there were at least two other accusers going back 12 years. No charges were filed and no arrest was made back then.

Olea was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in West Miami-Dade.

He is expected to appear in court Thursday.

Grateful patients, county officials, local sports teams and advocates gathered at the Lynn Rehabilitation Center, located at 1611 NW 12th Ave., Miami, for a news conference to announce the campaign, “One Day for Jackson,” which has already received tremendous support.

“There’s still so much more that we need to do,” said Carlos Migoya, President and CEO of Jackson Health. “That’s why we are counting on everyone in our community to support their health system on One Day for Jackson.”

All of the funds raised in this program is expected to be the largest in the nation and will contribute to projects like the expansion and renovation of the new emergency department at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

What matters to us is that every patient receives the best medical care,” said Migoya.

New infrastructure and technology that translates to world-class care to every resident regardless of their ability to pay.

“Delivering that type of indiscriminate healthcare comes at a cost,” stated Migoya.

Dr. Erika Rolle, a heart transplant recipient, shared her story and expressed gratitude for the life-saving care that she received at Jackson Health.

“My friends told me you need to go to Jackson,” she said. “Being told that your heart functions less than 15% is a hard pill to swallow. But then being told that you need a heart transplant is even harder.”

She underwent a successful heart transplant at the Miami Transplant Institute at Jackson Memorial Hospital in 2015 after being diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in 2006.

“I didn’t have to worry,” said Rolle. “Throughout my process I didn’t have to worry because Jackson made it possible for me to have that hope and keep the hope as well as the faith.”

Jackson Health Systems aims to provide an opportunity for the community to make live-saving stories, like Rolle’s miracle, a reality.

“All these kinds of things really go to provide the best quality of healthcare at the latest and greatest technology,” said Migoya.

Jackson Health Foundation raises funds to bridge funding gaps for major capital projects, critical areas, and programmatic needs to support patient care. One Day for Jackson will launch on April 4.

“The total number of reported cases at Manatee Bay Elementary, as of this morning, is now seven,” Licata said. “The individual impacted by this latest case has not physically been on campus since February 15th. As of now, all confirmed cases for Broward County Public Schools are specific to Manatee Bay Elementary with no other district schools impacted,” Licata said. “We continue to work closely with the Florida Department of Health in Broward and appreciate their guidance.”

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz addressed the increase in cases and called on Florida Governor Ron Desantis to fire Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo.

“I want to make clear today that our state leaders our failing us on this front,” Wasserman Schultz said. “Measles is a public health threat to Florida and so is Joe Ladapo.”

Over the weekend, FDOH reported two additional cases of measles in Broward County.

Originally, six cases of measles were identified at Manatee Bay Elementary School, but BCPS officials on Monday confirmed that those two latest cases reported over the weekend did not come from the elementary school.

It remains unknown where those two cases of measles came from.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that unvaccinated children quarantine for up to 21 days if they have been exposed to the measles virus. However, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, has granted parents the authority to determine how long their children can quarantine.

Critics are calling for Ladapo’s firing after providing his guidance in regards to the outbreak.

Wasserman Schultz said Ladapo should’ve followed CDC guidelines and declared a health emergency.

“That did not declare an emergency, did not discuss, recommend or require vaccinations and did not require quarantining potentially exposed children,” Wasserman Schultz said. “Instead, Ladapo places the key decisions fully on parents. Imagine that burden. Wrongly claiming that we have sufficient immunity in place. Surgeon General Ladapo needs to go.”

“It seems that the State Surgeon General, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, has backed away from them and taken a casual attitude about those critical public health measures,” said Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Dr. Paul Offit.

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

“The virus can remain airborne for up to two hours after the person leaves the room. That’s one of the reasons why it is so very contagious. Another problem is that people are contagious or infectious before they get the rash, up to four days ahead of time, so they can unwittingly infect other people before they even have measles,” said Dr. Mary Jo Trepka
infectious disease epidemiologist

“The problem with measles is that we’ve, not only largely eliminated the disease, it’s we’ve eliminated the memory of the disease, and now, somehow, than we feel we can treat it causally. That’s a mistake,” said Offit. “Measles is not a disease you want to catch, it’s not just one of those trivial childhood infections that everyone gets through. Secondly, measles is often a pneumonia. When you get chest X-rays on children with measles, a large percentage have abnormal chest X-rays. Don’t fool around with this disease. Make sure you’re vaccinated.”

According to the school district, about 30% of students at Manatee Bay Elementary are unvaccinated. On Tuesday, 82 students remained absent from school. The school district is urging all unvaccinated students to get the measles vaccine.

Manatee Bay’s 21-day exposure window closes on March 7th. School officials hope there are no more cases in the days to come.

7News reached out to the FDOH for a response but has yet to hear back.

In Florida, there are a total of 10 measles cases reported. One case of the disease was reported in Polk County.

On Tuesday morning, Miami Police were on the scene in the area of North Miami Avenue and Northwest 15th Street, just outside the Chapman Center, a homeless facility.

According to officials, police responded to the scene around 4:15 a.m. after a person was shot. They were transported to the hospital by fire rescue crews. Their condition is unknown.

Details are limited, but it appears as though two people were detained.

As a result of this investigation, 15th Street at Miami Avenue remains shut down.

The Miami Police Department has been contacted for more information.

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

Monday’s cooking class at Thomas Jefferson Biscayne Gardens K-8 Academy transported students to the West African country of Senegal.

Today’s recipe on how easy it is to eat healthy was curated by Common Threads, a national nonprofit that boils down the importance of health, wellness and nutrition.

“This is a 10 week lesson where the kids really learn about making nutritious, healthy food,” said Common Threads’ Patricia Dufane.

“This is amazing for my students because they’re obviously engaged, they’re all paying attention,” said Patrick Lacouty, principal at Thomas Jefferson Biscayne Gardens K-8 Academy.

The hope is that students here will bring the skills and lessons they learn in this kitchen and bring them to their kitchen at home.

“They really learn about the culture, about everything, and the most important, is to really teach them from like a younger age about eating healthy,” Dufane said,

“It’s giving them something to make them more sustainable, to make them feel good about themselves, to empower them and to give them a skill for the future, whether they want to be a chef or not,” said Chef Michelle Bernstein. “Everybody’s got to cook, right? Everybody’s got to eat. And so, we’re only teaching them, kid by kid, how to eat better, how to cook better.”

Students said they enjoy the class.

“Eating good food. That’s all I like,” said one student.

“You get to learn about food and eat, that’s what I really appreciate,” said a student.

This class is one ingredient in the recipe of life that hopefully makes a difference.

“If it keeps spreading, just think of what a healthier world we might have one day,” Bernstein said.

Alex Browning, 7News.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I just want to delete that’s it, I tried to delete it,” Yoni Maimon said on police footage.

Maimon, 30, ended up in cuffs, but in the end, his charges were dropped.

The arrest happened on Jan. 2 after police received a report of a possible vandalism along I-95 near Marina Mile Boulevard.

Troopers found Maimon with a can of spray paint in his hand, attempting to cover pro-Palestinian messages. By the time troopers arrived, he had already covered two sections reading “Free Gaza” and “Free Palestine” with silver paint.

Not long after they arrived, the dashcam video showed Maimon being placed in cuffs and put in the back of a cruiser, where he tried to explain to troopers that he didn’t create the graffiti and was trying to get rid of it.

“Why didn’t you call us? Why didn’t you call law enforcement?” the trooper said.

“I didn’t know I can call because I saw people do it so I wanted to delete it,” said Maimon on police video footage.

“You didn’t draw?” a trooper said.

“No, of course not,” Maimon said. “I just want to delete everything over there with the spray. I just want to delete. I’m from Israel and it’s a big fight right now with Israel and Gaza.”

Maimon told troopers that his boss was the one who sent him to do it. He works for a non-profit organization that helps Jewish families in South Florida and in Israel.

“We’re only trying to cover hate. This guy is an angel,” said Eran Hazan, Maimon’s boss, in an interview with 7News. “He helps families from the moment he wakes up in the morning until he goes to sleep.”

Hazan said he thinks FHP went too far that day.

FHP responded with “The arrestee is not the company hired to remove any graffiti. Therefore is considered vandalism/criminal mischief.”

“It’s not your property,” a trooper said.

“I know,” Maimon said.

The case was turned over to the Broward State Attorney where prosecutors painted a different picture for proceeding and chose to drop it. The state attorney said that the defendant in this case was covering up something he thought was offensive and was not attempting to destroy property.

Maimon said he’s learned his lesson but doesn’t regret what he did. He also said that he will report any graffiti instead of taking matters into his own hands.