MIAMI – A man was arrested Tuesday after police said he fired shots at another man outside an Overtown convenience store last month, following an argument the two had on Facebook.
Miami police responded to reports of a shooting and found a black Infiniti Q60 belonging to 32-year-old James Franklin McCoy parked at A.J.’s Convenience Store, located near the 500 block of Northwest Fifth Avenue at around 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 23.
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The victim, whose identity has not been released, told police McCoy shot at him during an altercation.
According to an arrest report, the dispute stemmed from comments made on Facebook, where the victim warned McCoy and his brother to avoid the Overtown area, escalating tensions between the two.
The victim stated that he had been “beefing” with McCoy because he had told a mutual friend, “It would’ve been a bad look for you if you attended his birthday party,” police wrote in the report.
Days later, police said the victim tried to “clear the air” with McCoy, but the discussion turned heated when McCoy allegedly told the victim, “You’ll get what’s coming to you.”
The victim said around 10:30 p.m., he was driving northbound on Northwest Fifth Avenue near Northwest Eighth Street when he saw his friend, known as “Red,” and stopped to talk to her.
At that moment, McCoy’s brother challenged him, saying, “Park the car and come fight me,” according to police.
The victim recalled asking, “Am I fighting you or your brother?” when McCoy’s brother responded, “That’s my brother. We are both going to jump you,” police said.
The victim said he continued driving but stopped at Northwest Fifth Avenue and Eighth Street. Through his rearview mirror, he saw his sister arguing with the witness. He then exited the vehicle and walked toward them.
The victim fled for cover and later approached responding officers, who detained him for safety reasons after he admitted he was armed, investigators said.
McCoy fled the scene, but the victim later identified him in a photo lineup, according to the report.
McCoy voluntarily came to the Miami Police Department’s Violent Crimes Office and, after being read his rights, cooperated with detectives.
He denied pointing a gun at the victim, though surveillance footage obtained by police showed McCoy aiming a gun in the victim’s direction.
While the gunshot itself was not caught on camera, police said witnesses scattered when McCoy aimed the weapon.
Detectives recovered a .40-caliber casing at the scene, and a search of McCoy’s car led to the discovery of a Glock 27 and a Roman Mini-Draco.
Jail records show McCoy is facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and illegal use of a firearm while committing a felony.
As of Wednesday, McCoy is being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where his bond has not yet been determined.