HIALEAH, FLA. (WSVN) - Police have arrested a suspect on Wednesday after a shooting at a South Florida hospital left one man injured following an altercation outside of a Hialeah hospital.
The suspect, 21-year-old Luis Martinez Rodriguez, was charged with attempted second-degree murder.
Hialeah Police responded to shots fired in the parking lot of Palmetto General Hospital, located at 2001 West 68th Street, Tuesday night.
Family members and the victim identified the shooter as Rodriguez.
According to police, there was a family dispute at the hospital. During the argument, Rodriguez pulled out a firearm and shot a family member one time in the arm.
“We have been able to arrest the person responsible for all of this,” Hialeah Police Department Lt. Eddie Rodriguez said.
He then fled the scene.
Police said the argument occurred while a woman was inside recovering from giving birth. The father of the baby got into an argument with one of her relatives.
During their investigation, detectives were able to contact Rodriguez and convinced him to return to the hospital. He was then taken into custody and remains at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
“Rodriguez pulled out a firearm and shot a family member and he fled the scene prior to police arrival,” said Lt. Rodriguez.
The victim, 43-year-old Carlos Costa, was rushed into the emergency room, which led to a brief lockdown.
He is expected to be OK.
Rodriguez appeared in court on Wednesday where he was read his charges.
“You said he shot the victim because he verbally disrespected him?” the judge asked.
The judge denied Rodriguez bond.
Rodriguez could be facing up to 15 years in prison.
“You’re talking about a 21 year old, recent arrival from Cuba, who has already committed a crime and now he’s not going to be able to see his child grow up,” said Rodriguez.
Copyright 2026 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.