Authorities in South Florida released a surveillance video showing the exact moment a man opened fire in broad daylight outside a café in Hialeah.
After the incident, the suspect -36 years old and identified as Daniel Odio Suárez- was arrested while attempting to flee the country on a flight to Havana.
A discussion that ended in violence
The shooting occurred on Sunday morning – around 10:30 a.m. – in front of the La Lunita café, located at 2200 West 8th Court, a spot frequented by local residents.
According to the police report, it all began with a dispute between Odio Suárez and the victim inside the establishment.
The verbal dispute quickly escalated and continued in the parking lot.
A security guard witnessed the incident and reported that the altercation escalated to violence when Odio Suárez pulled out a firearm.
In the footage captured by the cameras, the attacker can be seen chasing the victim around a Mercedes-Benz truck before firing at least three times.
The wounds and the urgent transfer
The victim, whose identity has not been revealed, was found with multiple gunshot wounds in the legs.
According to medical records, the man sustained three injuries: one to the left thigh that fractured his femur, another to the left calf, and a third to the front of his right leg, which caused a fracture in the tibia.
Due to the severity of the injuries, he was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he remains hospitalized.
Although his life is not in danger, the authorities have not disclosed details about his medical progression.
At the crime scene, investigators recovered three spent shell casings, which aligns with witness statements and the surveillance video.
The flight to the airport and the escape attempt
After committing the attack, Daniel Odio Suárez fled in his vehicle.
The police managed to track the car, which was found hours later in a garage at Miami International Airport (MIA).
This lead proved crucial in locating the suspect, who had already boarded an American Airlines flight to Havana.
In a coordinated effort, the Hialeah Police and the Department of Homeland Security carried out a lightning operation.
The aircraft, which was already en route to Cuba, was redirected back to the Miami airport terminal before leaving U.S. airspace.
According to the official report, Odio Suárez had purchased his ticket for 406 dollars with the apparent intention of fleeing and evading justice.
Once on land, he was arrested without incident and taken to the Hialeah Police Department.
The confession and the judicial process
During the interrogation, the accused provided what authorities described as a “full confession” of the shooting.
Odio Suárez was formally charged with second-degree attempted murder and remains in custody at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
On Monday afternoon, during his appearance before the court, a judge denied him bail, meaning that the suspect will remain in custody while the legal proceedings against him continue.
An unusual operation and an ongoing investigation
The case has garnered public attention not only because of the violent nature of the incident in a busy urban area but also due to the swift action taken by authorities to prevent the escape of the alleged aggressor.
The decision to divert an international commercial flight to apprehend a suspect is an extraordinary measure that reflects the seriousness of the charges filed.
So far, the authorities have not revealed what prompted the argument between Odio Suárez and the victim.
No additional information has been released about the relationship between the two or the background of the altercation that led to the shooting.