Suspect in fatal shooting at Chili's arrested

Arturo Exum faces charge of first-degree murder

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – A suspect wanted in the fatal shooting inside a Chili's restaurant Monday afternoon in Miami Gardens has been arrested.

Arturo Exum, 31, turned himself in at the Miami Gardens Police Department, police spokeswoman Petula Burks said Tuesday.

Exum is accused of shooting Lester Reid after a dispute between Reid and a co-worker, who was Exum's girlfriend.

Burks said Reid's co-worker called Exum, who came to Chili's and shot Reid.

Reid was taken to Aventura Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The 36-year-old father had recently moved to South Florida from New Jersey.

Chili's remained closed Tuesday. A sign on the door said the restaurant was closed "in an effort to take care of and support our team members."

Exum faces a charge of first-degree murder in Reid's death.

Records show that an ex-girlfriend filed a restraining order against Exum in 2015 after he grabbed a glass candle holder and began to strike her multiple times until the object broke.

The document said he placed his hands around her neck and strangled her. Police said she lost consciousness for 10 minutes.

The victim was pregnant at the time. Exum was sentenced to three years of probation and he had to complete an anger management course.

The restraining order was the fourth filed against Exum.


About the Authors

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.

Terrell Forney joined Local 10 News in October 2005 as a general assignment reporter. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, but a desire to escape the harsh winters of the north brought him to South Florida.

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