MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A man reported having to shoot an intruder on Sunday morning in northwestern Miami-Dade County, police said.
According to the Miami-Dade Police Department, the shooting happened at about 6:40 a.m., at a home near Miami Lakes and Palm Springs North.
“‘Pop, pop, pop, pop,’ and I looked at her and I’m like, ‘Are they starting fireworks so soon already?’ But it didn’t really sound like fireworks, and then we heard, ‘pop, pop, pop, pop’ after that one last shot,” neighbor Ofelia Martinez said.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel found the alleged intruder wounded in the leg near Northwest 91st Court, near 181st Street.
The homeowner’s next-door-neighbor told Local 10 News that he heard everything.
“After that, I hear a woman screaming, like ‘No, no, no, no!’” Alfonso Nieto said.
Detectives say the homeowner opened fire on the man because he was attempting to break into his home.
Nieto said the potential intruder was climbing up the home to gain access to the balcony, and possibly enter the home.
“My neighbor was in the balcony with a gun and a lantern,” he said.
After the shooting, officers spent the morning questioning people as part of their investigation.
“It was shocking because nothing like that ever happens in this community,” Martinez said. “Of course we’re worried now. We don’t know where that suspect came from, if he knew the guy, what his intentions were.”
Detectives asked anyone with information about this or other cases to call Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477 to remain anonymous.
Local 10 News Assignment Desk Editor Joyce Grace Ortega contributed to this report.