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Language barrier during Domino’s delivery leads to shooting in Miami, police say

Aaron Ford. (MDCR)

MIAMI – A 51-year-old man is now behind bars after police say he shot a Domino’s delivery driver in Miami Tuesday night during an incident that allegedly stemmed from a language barrier.

According to an arrest report from the Miami Police Department, Aaron Wallace Ford is facing one count each of aggravated battery with a firearm causing bodily harm, illegal possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and providing false identification after arrest.

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Miami police responded to a shooting around 11 p.m. after receiving a call that a pizza delivery driver was shot in the right hip at a home near the 2300 block of Northwest 10th Avenue.

The victim, who only spoke Spanish, stated that he tried asking for Ford’s name to confirm the order, but Ford was “uncooperative and agitated,” the report stated.

That’s when police said the victim suggested Ford call Domino’s to have someone translate for him in English.

When the victim went to the back of the car to get the pizza, Ford continued screaming and pushed him into the trunk, according to investigators.

Police said the victim then exited the trunk and began walking back to the driver’s side of his vehicle to leave because he was “scared for his life.”

As the victim tried to get into his vehicle, Ford confronted him again, continued screaming, and then pulled out a gun, firing one round that hit the victim in the right hip, according to authorities.

The victim was able to call 911 and provide details about Ford, who police said fled the scene on a bicycle after the shooting occurred.

According to an arrest report, the victim followed Ford in his white Toyota Corolla and relayed updates to 911 dispatchers.

Authorities said he was found with a handgun near the intersection of Northwest Third Avenue and Northwest 16th Terrace.

Detectives confirmed that surveillance video corroborated the victim’s statement.

Police said Ford, who admitted to having mental health issues, gave a confession to detectives, but it was redacted in the publicly released report.

According to police, due to the incident, Ford violated the terms of his probation for a previous arrest for battery on a police officer, corrections officer or firefighter.

As of Wednesday, Ford was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where his bond had not yet been determined.

Local 10 News has reached out to Domino’s for comment.


About the Author

Ryan Mackey is a Digital Journalist at WPLG. He was born in Long Island, New York, and has lived in Sunrise, Florida since 1994.

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