HOMESTEAD, Fla. – A teenage boy who was in foster care was behind bars with adults on Friday accused of trying to kill his biological mother’s alleged attacker in deep south Miami-Dade County.
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According to a police report, Guadalupe Miranda told police officers that after she was the victim of a beating that left her bruised — her daughter and son were enraged and wanted revenge.
Surveillance video shows Miranda, 36, arrive in a pickup truck with her two kids, and her son’s girlfriend on Sept. 28, at The Park Motel, at 600 S. Krome Ave., in Homestead, according to police.
Witnesses told Homestead police officers that the gunman on the surveillance video was Miranda’s 16-year-old son, Leonel Zapet, who shot the alleged attacker in the abdomen and fled.
Police officers reported responding to a foster home on Sept. 29, in Homestead, to arrest Zapet, who had a juvenile criminal record. Meanwhile, the victim’s condition was critical after being airlifted from Baptist Health Homestead Hospital to the Jackson South Medical Center, according to police.
Miami-Dade court records show prosecutors filed a case against Zapet, who turned 17 on Nov. 1, in adult court on Wednesday. Inmate records show correctional officers booked him in adult jail after the transfer on Thursday. He was at the Metrowest Detention Center on Friday.
Zapet is facing two felony charges as an adult: Second-degree attempted murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. His arraignment is at 9 a.m., on Nov. 18, before Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Richard Hersch.
Detectives asked anyone with information about this or other cases to call Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.