Eduardo Rivero, an employee at a used car dealership in southwestern Miami-Dade, was identified as the fatality of a shooting that occurred this Thursday. The man died as a result of gunfire from his half-brother, whose identity has not been revealed.
The incident, which also left two people seriously injured, occurred at the dealership Priced Right Motors, located at 7321 SW and 45th Street, an area with heavy traffic near Tropical Park.
Rivero, known among colleagues and clients for his friendly demeanor and dedication to work, was shot multiple times while he was on the job.
Despite being rushed to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital, he passed away shortly after his admission. His identity was publicly confirmed by family members to local media.
Visibly shaken, one of his brothers burst into tears in front of the cameras.
"The gunman is alive and took the life of my younger brother. My younger brother's name is Eduardo Rivero. He killed my little brother", he recounted with a trembling voice.
A Foretold Tragedy: The Family Background
According to the authorities, the person responsible for the shooting is Roberto Leyva, half-brother of Rivero.
According to information gathered by Univision, Leyva burst into the dealership armed and opened fire on Rivero and another unidentified individual.
Later, during an exchange of gunfire with the police, the shooter was severely injured.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff, Rosie Cordero-Stutz, noted in statements to the press that the incident was the result of "family problems" that have been lingering for years.
He emphasized that it was an act of domestic violence and not a random attack.
A source close to the family informed Telemundo 51 that the alleged attacker was struggling with drug addictions and the use of pills, and had a history of firearm possession.
He also stated that Leyva felt like "the black sheep of the family," which may have fueled his resentment.
According to a brother of the assailant who spoke to the media, Leyva sought to make his 69-year-old mother suffer, which might be the reason behind the violent outcome.
A horrifying scene: Witnesses describe the terror
The shooting unleashed moments of terror not only inside the dealership but also in neighboring businesses. In front of the location is the cheerleading academy Ídol Cheer, where several girls and their parents were trapped during the shooting.
"There were 20 girls, we stood against a corner outside the door, we started to hear about three groups of gunshots, several were heard. It stopped, there was a pause, they calmed down a bit and it started again," reported to Telemundo 51 Karen Báez, a witness to the incident.
Another mother recounted that "it's a moment you feel isn't real, everything freezes and you don't know how to act, I could hear my daughter's screams of terror."
Witnesses agree that multiple bursts of gunfire were heard, interspersed with brief silences, heightening the sense of panic.
Images captured at the scene showed officers running with weapons drawn, evacuating individuals with their hands raised while securing the area.
The operation: Rapid response and police cordon
Following the call to 911, rapid response units were immediately deployed.
SWAT agents, K-9 units, and patrols from various agencies blocked the streets between SW 70th to 75th Avenues and SW 40th to 48th Streets, turning the area into a critical operation zone.
In the area, authorities recovered a long rifle and a pistol used during the attack. There was also a reported exchange of gunfire between the assailant and the police, during which Leyva was neutralized.
At the same time, HCA Florida Kendall Hospital became the epicenter of despair.
The three injured arrived in critical condition, according to medical sources.
Tension quickly escalated among the family members waiting for news.
Some broke into tears, others embraced in silence, as the hospital doors closed to manage the internal emergency.
"The ambulances arrived one after another," a witness told Noticias 23. The police also enhanced security at the hospital out of fear of more incidents.
Priced Right Motors remains closed, and the investigation is ongoing as authorities seek to clarify all the details that led to this tragedy.
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