Argument over a tire ends with the death of a Cuban in Hialeah

A discussion between a mechanic and a customer over the repair of a tire ended in tragedy early Saturday morning in Hialeah.

The 36-year-old Cuban, Michel Montes de Oca, called a mobile service to fix his vehicle and met Brandon Hurst, a 29-year-old mechanic assigned to the job.

According to Eddie Rodríguez, spokesperson for the Hialeah police, the dispute arose when Montes de Oca inspected the tire that had been installed and became enraged upon realizing it was used.

"It had not been discussed whether the tire would be new or used, which triggered his anger to the point that a friend tried to calm him down unsuccessfully," Rodríguez recounted.

Hurst, seeing that the situation was becoming tense, retreated to his vehicle.

However, Montes de Oca pulled a machete from his car and lunged at the mechanic.

Hurst, fearing for his life, shot at him, resulting in Montes de Oca's death on the spot. The tragic incident occurred at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and 29th Street in west Hialeah.

"I was surprised by what happened. People are very aggressive these days and should think more before they act. Controlling emotions is vital," commented Otoniel Valdés, a neighbor who witnessed the scene, in statements to Telemundo 51.

The police report confirmed that Brandon Hurst remained at the scene until the authorities arrived.

Following the investigation, both the police and the prosecutor's office concluded that it was an act of self-defense, and therefore no charges will be brought against the mechanic.

The family of the deceased Cuban opened a GoFundMe account to raise money for the funeral service of Michel Montes de Oca. In just a few days, they have gathered over $26,000.