NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — A suspect has been arrested in connection with a deadly shooting that killed a man during his birthday celebration outside a North Miami Beach apartment complex just over a week ago.
According to an arrest report, Jamoree Ahmad Pitts, 22, is facing one count of first-degree murder, five counts of attempted felony murder with a firearm, seven counts of criminal mischief and one count of discharging a firearm in a residential area.
The shooting happened just after 1:30 a.m. on Aug. 20 at the Harvard House Apartments on Northeast 169th Street.
North Miami Beach police said ShotSpotter technology alerted officers to multiple rounds fired near Northeast 20th Avenue.
Upon arrival, police said they found 30-year-old Melvin Victor suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest in the apartment courtyard, where he had been celebrating his birthday with family and friends.
They said he was taken to a hospital, where he died. Several others at the scene were not hurt.
Victor’s brother, Jude Denozil, told Local 10 News earlier this month that the family was devastated by the loss.
“Melvin was a reliable, respectful young man and to see what happened to him, to see him lying on the floor, he didn’t deserve that,” Denozil said. “He was celebrating his birthday.”
Denozil said his brother had been outside with friends when a group of men approached, asked questions and later returned with guns.
Investigators said several suspects opened fire into the courtyard, hitting Victor and striking vehicles parked along the street and in the complex lot. They said roughly 31 rounds were fired.
Surveillance video captured the shooting, and investigators used facial recognition software to identify Pitts as one of the shooters.
Detectives later conducted surveillance at his home in Miami Gardens, where they confirmed his identity and executed a search warrant.
Inside, officers said they found a firearm and ammunition matching evidence recovered from the scene.
Pitts was taken into custody, transported to North Miami Beach Police Department Headquarters and later booked into Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Police said he invoked his Miranda rights and declined to speak with detectives.
Victor’s family said he worked for the city of North Miami Beach, right across the street from where he was killed.
As of Friday, Pitts was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where his bond was listed as “to be set.”
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