MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — A 38-year-old felon was back behind bars on Friday in Miami-Dade County after detectives accused him of shooting a man in the face — while on probation for a weapon-related offense, records show.
Miami Gardens detectives suspect Richard Nieves, Jr. was in his black 2004 Dodge Ram during the shooting at the Goodwill Superstore in Miami Gardens, according to a police report.
Surveillance video shows Nieves, who lives in Miami-Dade’s Westview neighborhood, outside of the Goodwill Superstore, at 19300 NW 27 Ave., according to the police report.
Nieves “punched the victim and became involved in a physical altercation with him ... returned to the pickup truck and drove toward the rear of the Goodwill,” the police officer wrote, according to the arrest report.
Nieves, who was released from prison in 2014, was under a probation that was set to end on June 23, 2028, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
On June 24, Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Carlos Humberto Gamez sentenced Nieves to probation after he was convicted of possession of a firearm, concealed weapon, or ammunition by a felon in Miami-Dade, according to court records.
Nieves also had convictions for trafficking heroin and grand theft motor vehicle in 2010, possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana in 2011, battery in 2015, and cocaine possession in 2016, according to court records.
On Thursday, Nieves was in his 2004 Dodge Ram when he “fired a firearm ... striking the victim,” a police officer wrote, according to the arrest report.
An air ambulance flew the victim to the HCA Florida Aventura Hospital, according to police.
Police officers detained Nieves for questioning and arrested him at 10 p.m. on Thursday at the Miami Gardens Police Department headquarters, records show.
Miami-Dade corrections booked Nieves shortly after 12:45 a.m. on Friday at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, according to inmate records. Nieves faced a charge of first-degree attempted murder. His bond was $10,000. Court records show Gamez was set to preside over the new case.
Local 10 News Assignment Editor Mercedes Cevallos contributed to this report.
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