Miami detectives investigate fatal shooting in Allapattah

Conflict outside El Nuevo Patio Restaurant & Lounge leaves 1 dead

MIAMI – Detectives were investigating a verbal spat that turned into a gun fight early Saturday morning in Miami's Allapattah neighborhood. The conflict ended with one dead.

Miami police officers said there was a 6:50 a.m. shooting outside of El Nuevo Patio Restaurant & Lounge at 1861 NW 22 St.

A wounded Leonardo "Leo" Perera ran for about a block and collapsed in front of the stairs of a two-story apartment building. 

"Perera was involved in an altercation with a group of males ... an exchange of gunfire ensued," Detective Rene Pimentel said. 

Alice Coley said her daughter woke up terrified after hearing the gun shots. When they looked out their front yard they found Perera bleeding from the back. 

"I told him: 'Just hold on! We are going to get you some help. And he must have understood us, because he was breathing... I thought he was going to make it," Coley said. 

Perera, 34, didn't make it. Miami Fire Rescue rushed him to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center, where doctors pronounced him dead. 

Detectives closed off an industrial warehouse and a residential area at Northwest 19th Avenue from Northwest 23rd to 22nd Street near the Juan Pablo Duarte Park. 

"We are still trying to put this puzzle together," Pimentel said. 

Detectives were asking anyone with information to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.

"The only thing I can do is to keep praying. Pray for justice," Coley said. 

Local 10 News' Melissa Alvarez, Elsa Bolton and Landon McRaynolds contributed to this story. 

This is a developing story. Refresh this link periodically for the latest information. 


About the Authors:

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.