MIAMI – Authorities arrested a Miami man in connection with a shooting that they said left another man critically wounded in the city’s Little Havana neighborhood early Tuesday morning.
Miami police said officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert about a gunshot fired near the 1000 block of West Flagler Street around 5 a.m.
Authorities confirmed an off-duty officer working nearby heard the shot and witnessed Shawn Orientus, 26, of Little River, running south with a large backpack.
Police said officers pursued Orientus, ordering him to stop.
They said at some point during a foot chase, Orientus was seen throwing the backpack over a fence at the nearby Lincoln-Marti Charter School.
Authorities later recovered the backpack, which they said contained a Glock 17 gun.
During a search of the area, investigators said they found a victim shot in the abdomen. The victim was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where they said his injuries were confirmed to be life-threatening, according to police.
Police said surveillance video footage showed Orientus arguing with the victim before firing into the victim’s vehicle as the man tried to drive away. The footage also showed Orientus running away afterward.
Additional footage from the school captured Orientus attempting to hide the backpack containing the gun, according to investigators.
Authorities said a criminal background check revealed Orientus was convicted in 2019 of armed robbery with a deadly weapon. Police also confirmed that the firearm used in the shooting had been reported stolen in a previous case.
Jail records show he is facing one count each of attempted murder with a firearm, illegal possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, illegal use or displaying a firearm while committing a felon, and third-degree grand theft.
As of Wednesday, Orientus remains at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where his bond was listed as “to be set.”
Police did not release any information about the victim or the events leading up to the shooting.