SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - A welfare check for an elderly woman turned into a disturbing find inside a Southwest Miami-Dade home, and now police are investigating the shooting deaths of four people.
Miami-Dade Police units responded to the residence in the area of Southwest 137th Court, near 47th Street, just after 2 p.m., Sunday.
Officers were conducting a welfare check on a hospice patient. When they entered the home, they found that patient, a woman in her 80s, shot to death.
Police said there were three other people found dead: an elderly man, a woman and a man possibly in his 60s.
Investigators believe the man in his 60s shot the other three people and turned the gun on himself.
“[Officers] did find them in three different rooms. One of the victims was, I believe, in one of the bedrooms, the elderly victims were found in another room, I believe another bedroom, and the presumed shooter was found in another room with a firearm next to him,” said MDPD Detective Angel Rodriguez.
A family member called police after not being able to reach anyone at the home.
“Check on the welfare, reference the complainant hasn’t heard from his parents in the last three days,” said a dispatcher.
Authorities received additional calls from people worried about the well-being for the people in the house.
“We also received an additional call from a social worker from hospice referring to a welfare check,” said a dispatcher.
“Can you reach the call back and have them open the door,” said an officer.
“She said to try the door. It’s usually open. If not, you will probably have to force entry,” said a dispatcher.
Cruz said her mom had a key to the home and was able to let police in.
“The elderly lady was on the bed to the right, and elderly man was on the other bed,” she said.
Cruz also saw her son’s wife in the other room.
“I saw three and I was like I know there was a fourth one,” she said.
Police spent hours going in and out of the home. Officers, forensic units and a medical examiner blocked off the entrance to 137th Court while they continued their investigation.
Joanna Cruz, a neighbor, was left haunted by what she saw inside her mother’s friends home.
“I feel like I’m in a nightmare because it’s unpleasant to see that and and the elderly woman that was a beautiful soul, a beautiful person,” Cruz said. “I said either stabbed ’em or shot ’em ’cause there was blood and it looked like it was dried up, so it was a few days already.”
Cruz identified the four that were found deceased at the home, but officials have not confirmed those identities.
“The elderly lady, her name is Mercedes Morato, her husband was Jesus Regueira, I think, and the son was Jr., so I guess he had the same name, and the wife, the only name I know is Christa.”
Detectives think all four people were related, but don’t know how just yet.
“At this time, we believe that it is domestic related in nature, however, we have not be able to establish the familial ties,” Rodriguez said.
“When I saw three, I said, ‘Where’s the fourth one? I know there’s a four one,’ and I ran out because I said, ‘If he’s still alive here, I’m next,'” Cruz said.
A neighbor who asked not to be identified or show her face on camera spoke with 7News about the elderly woman.
“Up until that point, she had been walking around the neighborhood with her walker,” she said.
The neighbor said the hospice patient had recently suffered a stroke and lived in the home with her elderly ex-husband, her son and daughter-in-law.
“I spoke to the nurse that went in every day. She also had a health care worker who came in and bathed her every day,” she said. “They were there last on Wednesday, and they said that she was very, you know, optimistic, she was talking, she was in good spirits. Meanwhile, her son, I hear, was not in good spirits. They said he was very depressed about what had happened to his mom.”
Other neighbors were stunned to hear about what happened.
“It’s really not something that you see very often, or ever, in this neighborhood,” said a man
“It took me by surprise to see all this scene, the road blocked off with so many cops. It’s scary,” said a woman.
Police have not determined why the shooter would do this but made a plea to the community.
“Please, if you are in a position where you’re not feeling well, you need someone to talk to, please reach out,” said Rodriguez. “There are plenty of services; we have plenty of services within the county, and there are many different entities, different agencies in the community that also provide assistance.”
As of Monday morning, police have not released the names of the people involved, as they continue to investigate.
If you, or someone you know is struggling, help is available on the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. You can also contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness at NAMI.org.
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