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Man shoots 2 nephews in Broward: Teenage boy is brain dead; 21-year-old ‘hero’ survives

Victims’ sister and mother talk about the aftermath of a domestic violence shooting in Hollywood

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Destiny Wierzba said her family’s tragedy in Hollywood was after a disagreement over a household chore.

The 18-year-old student stood next to her mother, Grisel Alameda, Saturday to talk about how on Thursday she wasn’t home when her uncle Anthony Wierzba shot her two brothers.

“I didn’t think he was capable of murder,” Destiny Wierzba said.

Alameda said her 15-year-old son, Alex Wierzba, was brain-dead in Broward County, and her 21-year-old son, Richard Wierzba, survived. He was getting treatment for an eye injury in Miami-Dade County.

“He is alive, he remembers everything,” Destiny Wierzba said.

Brothers Alex Wierzba, 15, left, and Richard Wierzba, 21, right, remained hospitalized on Saturday in Hollywood. (Courtesy photos)

Richard Wierzba allegedly told his sister that their uncle Anthony “Tony” Wierzba was angry at Alex and there was an argument.

“My little brother was just trying to clean a litter box,” Destiny Wierzba said.

Richard Wierzba told her he decided to intervene to protect his little brother and that was when their uncle shot them.

“He played dead until Tony was gone,” Destiny Wierzba said. “He was a big hero. He got up and ran next door with a headshot.”

Anthony “Tony” Wierzba shared this selfie publicly on Facebook on Oct. 28, 2023. He died on Thursday in Hollywood. (Courtesy photo)

Alameda said that although she did not have custody of her sons and daughter, she was still allowed to be a part of their lives.

“I have my hate, my anger, my sadness, but I am trying to take it one day at a time,” Alameda said.

The grieving mother said she had lost custody of her kids before their father Richard Lee Wierzba died in 2010, and his mother Tina Wierzba had custody of them.

“Tony” Wierzba had been grieving his younger brother on Facebook.

He shared the same photo of him on his Sept. 11 birthday and on the anniversary of his death on May 17, 2010. He also shared an image of his tombstone.

“Cherished son, father, husband, brother, uncle.”

Richard Lee Wierzba died in 2010. The day before the 14th anniversary of his death his brother shot his two sons before committing suicide in Hollywood. (Courtesy photos)

The shooting was on the day before the painful 14th anniversary at the family home along McKinley Street, near 53 Avenue. “Tony” Wierzba killed himself. He had co-owned Anthony’s Towing & Recovery. He was 53.

According to Deanna Bettineschi, a spokeswoman for the Hollywood Police Department, police officers found three were shot at about 4:20 p.m., and fire rescue took two to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood.

AEF Schools, where Alex was a 9th-grade student, organized a fundraiser to help support his family. His brother had also been a student there and the school employees knew Tina Wierzba as their guardian.

At 71 years old, after the tragedy, Tina Wierzba had survived her two sons and likely her grandson.

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About the Authors
Cody Weddle headshot

Cody Weddle joined Local 10 News as a full-time reporter in South Florida in August of 2022. Before that, Cody worked regularly with Local 10 since January of 2017 as a foreign correspondent in Venezuela and Colombia.

Andrea Torres headshot

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.

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