HOMESTEAD, Fla. – A 21-year-old man from Homestead was arrested Tuesday after he shot a man on the Fourth of July near his home, authorities said.
According to his arrest report, the shooting occurred shortly after 4:30 a.m. Thursday in the 100 block of Northeast Ninth Street.
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Homestead police said three men were riding in a vehicle when they made a left onto Ninth Street.
As they made the turn, Luis Felipe Perez was standing in the middle of the road, armed with a gun, authorities said.
According to the report, the driver was forced to stop the vehicle, at which time Perez walked to the driver’s side of the car and began punching the window.
Police said the driver took off and Perez fired at the vehicle, striking one of the passengers in the back.
According to the report, one of the witnesses told detectives that the suspect told him, “This is my block” prior to the shooting.
Police said the victim and one of the witnesses identified Perez in a photo lineup.
According to the report, police obtained a search warrant for Perez’s home Tuesday and arrived to find him standing outside on his front lawn.
Police said Perez ran inside the house when he saw police arrive, but exited the home about 20 minutes later.
According to the report, a 9 mm gun was found in the dryer.
Police said Perez initially claimed that he was not home on the Fourth of July, but then changed his story, claiming that he heard the dogs barking and went outside where he saw several men he is having issues with.
Police said Perez claimed that the men fired at him and he fired back in self-defense.
When shown a photo of the victim, however, Perez said he did not know him, according to authorities.
Police said Perez refused to answer questions about where the gun used on the date of the shooting was or about the gun found in the dryer.
Perez was arrested on charges of attempted murder, displaying a firearm while committing a felony and armed criminal mischief.
As of Wednesday afternoon, he remained held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center without bond.