MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A Miami-Dade man was arrested over the weekend after police said a confrontation over alleged animal abuse involving his dog escalated into a violent shooting incident that involved multiple people and left several homes damaged.
Miami-Dade police said officers responded to reports of gunfire at a home near the 1100 block of Northeast 203rd Street in the unincorporated Ives Estates area at around 12:20 p.m. Saturday.
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When Miami-Dade police arrived, they found 38-year-old Albert Gomez armed with a gun, with another weapon discovered on the ground nearby, according to an arrest report.
The incident began earlier when a victim noticed what he believed to be animal abuse involving Gomez’s dog at a nearby intersection, the report stated.
Concerned for the dog’s well-being, authorities said the victim and his father went to Gomez’s home to confront him.
What started as an argument over the treatment of the dog quickly escalated into a fight between Gomez and the victim, according to police.
During the confrontation, authorities said both men were yelling at each other when Gomez claimed the victim headbutted him, sparking the altercation.
Police said the situation intensified when Gomez pulled out a gun and fired several shots at the victim.
Shortly after his gun jammed, police said Gomez grabbed another firearm from his residence and continued shooting at both the victim and his father.
As the struggle for the second gun continued, police said at least one shot was fired, hitting the tire of the victim’s vehicle.
Gomez told police he picked up a gun from the ground during the struggle with the victim, but the weapon jammed, leading him to go back to his home, according to investigators.
Shortly after returning, police said Gomez knocked on the door and asked his wife to call the police and return his gun to him.
As police surveilled the area, officers said they found two projectile strike marks on the residence directly across from Gomez’s home, which they said was occupied by two additional individuals at the time of the shooting.
Police said they recovered the spent casings and Gomez’s guns at the crime scene.
These findings were consistent with the statements made by both Gomez and the victims, authorities said. .
While being questioned by detectives, police said Gomez also made a confession that was redacted in the publicly released report.
Police did not disclose the relationship between Gomez and the victims involved in the incident.
Jail records show Gomez is facing one count each of shooting or throwing a deadly missile, aggravated battery on a person 65 years or older, unlawful discharge in a public place or residential area and criminal mischief.
As of Monday, the Colombian national is being held on an immigration hold at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where his bond has not yet been determined.