SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - A death investigation has stretched into the next day at an auto parts store in Southwest Miami-Dade after, police said, a customer who was taken into custody suddenly went unresponsive.
Miami-Dade Police and Fire Rescue units responded to the Auto Zone along the 9300 block of Southwest 56th Street, Monday evening.
Just after 10 p.m., 7News cameras captured police officers and crime scene tape surrounding the store.
Investigators said they had responded to a call they received at 6:11 p.m. about an unruly customer.
Witness Logan Rios said the 42-year-old was irate and throwing items around the business.
“This guy was walking around. He went into Auto Zone, he was taking drugs, he had a tantrum,” said Rios, “and he threw everything that was inside the store on the floor.”
When officers arrived to apprehend the man, things took a scary turn.
“They were able to put the unruly customer into custody, at which point he became immediately unresponsive,” said an MDPD detective Luis Sierra. “Our officers immediately began resuscitative efforts.”
Officials said MDFR units arrived at 6:24 p.m. and transported the man to Baptist Hospital.
“As Miami-Dade Fire Rescue took over resuscitative efforts, they transported him to the nearest hospital, where he was pronounced deceased,” said Sierra.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the circumstances leading up to the man’s death.
Police said they didn’t use any weapons or restraints besides handcuffs.
Rios said he hopes detectives get to the bottom of it.
“I hope his parents are doing OK, and I hope these officers are able to figure out everything else that’s happened,” he said.
Authorities have not released the identity of the man.
Copyright 2025 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.