MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Detectives with the Miami-Dade Police Department are closer than ever to solving the brutal 2000 murder of Alexander Costas.
It was just after midnight when two masked men broke into Costas’ home on Northeast 203rd Street in April of 2000.
As Costas’ mother heard glass shattering, she rushed out of her bedroom to find one of the intruders armed with a firearm.
“They broke glass, and the victim’s mother came out of her bedroom and saw one of the assailants armed with a firearm,” said Jonathan Grossman, a detective with the Miami-Dade Police Department.
In a desperate attempt to escape, Costas’ mother crawled through a window and ran to a neighboring house.
There were several gunshots, and 24-year-old Costas was killed.
Despite no arrests for decades, MDPD’s cold case unit never gave up. They kept digging into the circumstances surrounding Costas’ death.
The crime scene photos revealed crucial evidence, including the broken front glass and the possibility of drug-related activity outside the home. Costas was not involved in any illegal activity. He was an innocent victim, according to police.
“We believe there were three suspects—two entered the home, and one stayed in a car outside,” Grossman said.
A neighbor provided a key clue. After hearing the gunshots, she looked outside and saw a vehicle that could be linked to the getaway.
“She observed a goldish-looking vehicle, a 1990s gold four-door Mazda,” said Grossman.
He believes it’s only a matter of time before they bring closure to Costas’ family.
“We believe this is one we will be able to bring some closure to the victims,” Grossman said.