FLORIDA CITY, Fla. – Miami-Dade police announced the arrest of an 18-year-old suspect Friday in connection with the fatal shooting of a man in Florida City, authorities confirmed.
According to jail records, Kendy Javier Torres Figueras, of Miami, is facing one count of second-degree murder with a weapon.
Police said the victim, identified as Marco Antonio Ortiz Rodriguez, died after he was found lying on a sidewalk in Florida City Thursday morning with a gunshot wound to the chest.
According to Florida City police Sgt. David Hunsberger, officers responded to the area of Palm Drive and U.S. 1 just after 7:40 a.m. after receiving a gunshot detection alert.
5:30 p.m. report:
Miami-Dade police, who took over the investigation, later confirmed to Local 10 News that Ortiz Rodriguez was killed during a family-related dispute.
Authorities said the incident began when a red pickup truck, carrying two people including Ortiz Rodriguez, was traveling on Southwest 344th Street before coming to a stop, at which point the passenger exited the vehicle.
Moments later, police said Torres Figueras pulled up to the scene in a Toyota Corolla and confronted the passenger inside the red pickup.
Police said Ortiz Rodriguez exited the truck and told Torres Figueras to stop threatening him before the suspect fired multiple shots, striking the victim in the torso. Authorities said Torres Figueras then fled westbound in the Toyota Corolla.
According to Hunsberger, Ortiz Rodriguez was airlifted by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue to Jackson South Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators said the shooting was captured on surveillance video, and witnesses, including the driver and front passenger of the Ford F-150, positively identified the Torres Figueras as their relative.
Investigators said Torres Figueras later surrendered to Florida City police later in the day and was taken to the MDPD’s Homicide Bureau for questioning.
Detectives confirmed that Torres Figueras waived his rights and provided a statement admitting to the shooting, police said. He also told investigators he fled the scene and disposed of the gun, according to the report.
A motive for the shooting remains unclear at this time.
As of Friday, Torres Figueras remains at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where his bond was listed as “to be set.”