Burglary suspects shot by homeowner in southwest Miami-Dade County

1 suspect killed, another airlifted to Kendall Regional Medical Center

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A homeowner shot two burglary suspects Monday at his home in southwest Miami-Dade County, police said.

A Miami-Dade police spokesman said officers received a call about a burglary involving two armed men in the 27000 block of Southwest 189th Avenue.

Police said the homeowner, a 77-year-old man, was in the shower when he heard strange noises. Police said he went to see what was going on and came face-to-face with the burglars.

Authorities said the victim opened fire on the men. One of the suspects was pronounced dead at the scene.

The second suspect, a 25-year-old man, was also shot by the victim and airlifted to Kendall Regional Medical Center. His condition has not been released.

A boy who was home alone next door heard the commotion and called his father, who rushed back home.

"He's locked in the house with the alarm on and said, 'Dad, there's police everywhere, cars everywhere,' so I took it upon myself to shoot over here," Charles Gonzalez said.

Meanwhile, neighbors told Local 10 News reporter Terrell Forney that several burglaries have occurred in the neighborhood.

"I think he's 100 percent correct," a neighbor said of the victim. "They went to burglarize his house. And it's not the first time he was burglarized."

The woman said she too has been a victim of a burglary. In her case, about $80,000 worth of jewelry was taken from her home.

It's unclear whether the suspects were connected to any of the other burglaries in the neighborhood.

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About the Authors:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.

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.