A commercial flight headed to Havana had to be redirected back to the Miami International Airport (MIA) this Sunday, after authorities identified a man on board who was accused of being involved in a violent shooting hours earlier in the city of Hialeah.
The suspect was arrested following a joint operation between the Hialeah Police and the Department of Homeland Security, which allowed them to intercept him as he was allegedly attempting to flee the country to evade justice, according to local news.
The shooting in front of a popular café
According to police reports, the incident occurred around 10:30 AM on Sunday in front of the cafetería La Lunita, located at 2200 West 8th Court, a busy spot in Hialeah.
The suspect has been identified as Daniel Odio-Suarez -also referenced as Daniel Odiosuarez in official records- 36 years old and a resident of Cutler Bay, who is facing charges of second-degree attempted murder, according to Miami-Dade County jail records.
An arrest report indicates that everything started with an argument between Odio-Suarez and the victim, whose identity has not been revealed.
A security guard at the establishment, a direct witness to the incident, told investigators that the altercation escalated quickly and became violent.
According to his testimony, Odio-Suarez drew a firearm, chased the victim around his own Mercedes-Benz truck, and fired multiple times.
At the scene, the agents recovered three fired cartridges, which matches the account given by the witness.
The victim, shot and transported by helicopter
After the shooting, officers found the victim with gunshot wounds in the legs.
Due to the initial severity of the case, she was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where she remains hospitalized.
The authorities later reported that the injuries did not threaten his life, although the exact status of his recovery has not been disclosed.
The escape to the airport
After firing, Odio-Suarez left the scene in his vehicle and headed directly to Miami International Airport.
As the detectives continued their investigation of the shooting, they managed to locate his car parked in a garage at the airport, which raised immediate suspicions.
Shortly afterward, authorities confirmed that the suspect had boarded an American Airlines flight with a final destination of Havana, Cuba.
With the support of the Department of Homeland Security, the authorities acted swiftly and ordered the plane to return to the terminal of Miami airport before continuing its international route.
Once on land, agents detained Odio-Suarez, who was taken to the Hialeah Police Department for formal processing.
According to the police report, Odio-Suarez would have purchased the ticket for 406 dollars with the explicit intention of avoiding capture.
During the interrogation following his arrest, the accused provided the detectives with what the report describes as a "full confession" of the shooting.
Subsequently, he was admitted to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where he remained in custody until Monday afternoon.
During his appearance in court this Monday, a judge decided to deny him bail, which means that Odio-Suarez will remain in custody while the judicial process against him continues.
The case has garnered attention for the speed with which authorities were able to locate the suspect and coordinate the diversion of an international flight, an unusual measure that reflects the seriousness of the charges he faces.
At the moment, the investigation remains open and authorities have not provided further details about the reason for the argument that led to the shooting, nor about the identity of the victim.
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