HOMESTEAD, Fla. – A 47-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the deadly shooting of another man outside a Homestead food store, an attack investigators say was captured on surveillance video and witnessed by multiple bystanders.
Recommended Videos
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, which took over the case from the Homestead and Florida City police departments, said Leon Lamont Hillman was taken into custody on Thursday in connection with the killing of 65-year-old Sidney Report Myers.
Deputies say Myers was socializing with several individuals around 7:55 p.m. on April 12, outside El Charrito Supermarket, located at 708 SW Sixth Ave., when Hillman approached on foot, wearing a light-colored hoodie.
They said surveillance footage showed that Hillman pulled a revolver from under his clothing and opened fire on Myers at point-blank range.
Investigators said Myers “flailed his arms” in an attempt to defend himself, but Hillman continued to fire, even after Myers fell to the ground.
Witnesses said the shooter then ran in a northbound direction on Southwest Sixth Avenue.
Despite being critically wounded, deputies said Myers managed to get on his bicycle and ride roughly two blocks before collapsing at the intersection of Southwest Eighth Street and Sixth Avenue.
A Florida City police officer patrolling nearby was flagged down just before 8 p.m. by a bystander who noticed Myers unresponsive on the sidewalk next to a bicycle, according to an arrest warrant.
The officer discovered Myers bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds and immediately called for backup and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, the warrant stated.
Paramedics arrived and airlifted Myers to Jackson South Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 9 p.m.
Responding officers would determine that the shooting had happened outside the supermarket.
Homestead and Florida City police responded to the scene, but the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office later took over the investigation.
Detectives said Hillman was identified by a key witness who told investigators he had been sitting in his electric wheelchair next to Myers when the shooting occurred.
The witness said he recognized Hillman as the shooter and knew him personally as the father of his niece’s child, according to the warrant.
Jail records show Hillman is facing one count of first-degree murder with a firearm or deadly weapon.
As of Friday, Hillman is being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
A motive for the shooting has not been released at this time.
Anyone with additional information on the shooting is asked to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
