CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Family members of Jimmeal Davis believe he was murdered at a Coral Gables motel over the weekend, but police believe it was a case of self-defense.
The shooting happened Saturday at the Gables Inn, located at 730 S. Dixie Highway.
“A dispute. It (was) a physical, a verbal dispute,” said Von Waiters, Davis’ cousin. “He walked out of that office was shot two times.
“He can’t be heard but I’m going to be heard for him.”
Miami-Dade police, who are investigating the case, said all indications are that the shooting was self-defense.
Davis’ family said he was shot from behind.
“Right now, if I was breaking into someone’s house they can’t shoot me as I am running off,” said Waiters. “Self-defense my ass, stand my ground my ass.”
The family said that there is a bulletproof glass in the lobby.
“He had to walk through a bulletproof glass and a locked door to shoot him,” said Waiters. “Self-defense how?”
Waiters was asked why his cousin was there in the first place.
“He was here for two days,” he said. “He wasn’t a problem then.”
The family is demanding to see the surveillance video and said Davis didn’t have a gun.
“Show us the footage,” Waiters said. “Show us the footage and we’ll get peace of mind from it.”
Management at the Gables Inn told Local 10 News Davis trespassed into an employee only area and assaulted the clerk.
They said he was not shot in the back and that the surveillance video is extremely clear.
Hotel management did not provide Local 10 News with the video and Miami-Dade police haven’t released it either.