MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - Two persons of interest were detained in connection to a deadly shooting that took the life of a South Beach tourist over the weekend.
According to police, the two men were taken into custody on 14th Terrace, just off of Brickell Avenue, Tuesday morning.
7’s Skyforce HD flew over the scene as the men were escorted by officials.
“We were able to, with the assistance of Miami PD, locate several other individuals who, we believe, may have information in connection with this murder,” said Miami Beach Police Officer Ernesto Rodriguez.
A clue on camera led Miami Beach Police to a building in Brickell. A Jeep was seen on surveillance footage, near the scene of the crime, after shots were fired.
An owner at Avanti World Rent A Car, near Miami International Airport, said the vehicle was rented from him on Friday and recovered Monday night by police.
“They return the car on Sunday, and we found out that the car was with bullet impact on the car and a broken light,” said Avanti World Rent A Car Owner Pedro Alvarez. “We never thought about anything until Monday morning when we saw the news that the car was involved in the killing.”
Alvarez told 7News that the men who rented the car are from New York, as well.
Rodriguez said that rental helped with the connection. “That, along with other information led our detectives to a condominium or apartment tower,” he said.
Miami Beach Police confirmed that there are multiple persons of interest who may have more information about the shooting. They were inside police headquarters, around 4 p.m., Tuesday. Officials said they are cooperating with officials and are in fact offering some kind of information that may help in this case.
As of Wednesday morning, police said, the have released all of the individuals who were questioned.
Officials also said some men were released while other persons of interest voluntarily came in for questioning. “Those individuals are currently here at Miami Beach PD,” Rodriguez said.
The persons of interests were detained in connection of the shooting of 30-year-old Lavon Walker. Walker, a father of two young children, was fatally shot outside of News Cafe, near Eighth Street and Ocean Drive, just before 7 a.m., Sunday.
Walker was a minister and an anti-gun violence advocate from New York who was in Miami on vacation.
A witness, who was too afraid to show his face on camera, described how Walker was sitting with a large group of people at the News Cafe having breakfast when three men approached. “When the shooter shot the guy, he went down, and jumped into the Jeep Grand Cherokee and sped off,” the witness said.
At a vigil for Walker in New York, Tuesday night, members of Walker’s anti-violence group gathered to remember him. Walker’s wife, Marilyn, spoke to the crowd.
“My two sons, you know, they love their daddy,” she said. “They were his pride and joy. It’s not fair that he had to leave them behind.”
No official arrests have been made at this time.
If you have any further information on this shooting, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.
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