Possible domestic violence dispute leads to death of FIU student in Miami-Dade

The victim’s father faces one count of second-degree murder, according to jail records

MIAMI – A man was arrested Friday afternoon after police say he fatally shot his son at a home in Miami-Dade County’s Kendall neighborhood.

The shooting happened at about 2 p.m., at a house near the intersection of Southwest 106th Street and 84th Avenue, west of South Dixie Highway.

“Preliminary information is leading detectives to believe that this may be a domestic-related murder,” Detective Andre Martin said, adding that the victim, who was in his 20s, suffered a gunshot wound.

A grieving friend of the man killed identified him as Eric Contreras, a Florida International University student who was majoring in construction management and who was a member of a fraternity. Police sources identified the father as 52-year-old David Contreras.

Eric Contreras. (WPLG)

Miami-Dade police told Local 10 News that David Contreras made the 911 call confessing to the crime.

Sources told Local 10 News that the victim’s mother was not at home at the time of the shooting.

Jaime Stramando, a neighbor, described the Kendall neighborhood where the shooting happened as very quiet.

“Nothing like this happens around here,” Stramando said.

“Domestic violence is a real issue,” said Martin. “And anyone who is suffering in a romantic or domestic situation that has become violent or that they believe is going to become violent, we urge them to reach out to resources.”

FIU told Local 10 News in a statement that Eric Contreras was admitted to FIU in the summer of 2022 and attended until this past summer. He was not enrolled to take classes in fall of 2023.

David Contreras is facing one count of second-degree murder and is being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, according to jail records.

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

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), visiting www.thehotline.org or texting LOVEIS to 22522.


About the Authors

Cody Weddle joined Local 10 News as a full-time reporter in South Florida in August of 2022. Before that, Cody worked regularly with Local 10 since January of 2017 as a foreign correspondent in Venezuela and Colombia.

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.

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