A commercial flight heading to Havana had to be redirected back to the Miami International Airport (MIA) this Sunday, after authorities identified a man on board who was suspected of being involved in a violent shooting a few hours earlier in the city of Hialeah.
The suspect was arrested following a joint operation between the Hialeah Police and the Department of Homeland Security, which allowed them to intercept him as he was allegedly trying to flee the country to evade justice, according to local press.
The shooting in front of a popular café
According to police reports, the incident occurred around 10:30 in the morning on Sunday in front of La Lunita café, located at 2200 West 8th Court, a busy spot in Hialeah.
The suspect was identified as Daniel Odio-Suarez -also referred to as Daniel Odiosuarez in official records- 36 years old and a resident of Cutler Bay, who faces charges of attempted second-degree murder, according to Miami-Dade County jail records.
An arrest report indicates that it all started with an argument between Odio-Suarez and the victim, whose identity has not been disclosed.
A security guard at the establishment, a direct witness to the incident, recounted to investigators that the altercation quickly escalated to violence.
According to his testimony, Odio-Suarez pulled out a firearm, chased the victim around his own Mercedes-Benz truck, and fired several times.
At the scene, the agents recovered three fired casings, which matches the account provided by the witness.
The victim, shot and transported by helicopter
After the shooting, officers found the victim with gunshot wounds to the legs.
Due to the seriousness of her condition, she was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where she remains hospitalized.
Authorities later reported that the injuries were not life-threatening, although the exact status of their recovery has not been disclosed.
The escape to the airport
After firing the shots, Odio-Suarez left the scene in his vehicle and headed straight to Miami International Airport.
As the detectives continued their investigation into the shooting, they were able to locate his car parked in a garage at the airport itself, which raised immediate suspicions.
Shortly after, authorities confirmed that the suspect had boarded an American Airlines flight with a final destination of Havana, Cuba.
With the support of the Department of Homeland Security, authorities acted swiftly and ordered the plane to return to the terminal at Miami airport before continuing its international route.
Once on land, agents arrested Odio-Suarez, who was taken to the Hialeah Police Department for formal processing.
According to the police report, Odio-Suarez allegedly purchased the ticket for 406 dollars with the explicit intention of avoiding capture.
During the interrogation following his arrest, the defendant provided the detectives with what the report describes as a “full confession” of the shooting.
Subsequently, he was admitted to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where he remained detained until Monday afternoon.
During his appearance in court this Monday, a judge decided to deny him bail, which means that Odio-Suarez will remain in custody while the legal proceedings against him continue.
The case has attracted attention due to the speed with which authorities managed to locate the suspect and coordinate the diversion of an international flight, an unusual measure that reflects the seriousness of the charges he faces.
For the moment, the investigation remains open, and the authorities have not provided further details regarding the reason for the argument that led to the shooting, nor about the identity of the victim.