Key West

Key West businessman convicted of murdering 21-year-old man who urinated on his building

A jury of 12 convicted a Key West businessman of first-degree murder Wednesday for shooting and killing a 21-year-old man whom he had confronted for urinating on the side of his building in 2023, prosecutors said.

Man ditches hurt friend ‘like nothing happened’ during stolen golf cart ‘joyride’ in Key West: Cops

What are friends for? One man may be asking himself that after police said his friend ditched him in the middle of the road in “extreme pain” during a stolen golf cart “joyride” around Key West over the weekend.

WATCH! New Year’s celebrations across South Florida

If you’re staying in this New Year’s Eve, you can catch celebrations across South Florida right here on Local10.com.

New Year’s Eve: Celebrate with South Florida’s countdown and fireworks Coast to Coast

South Florida is at the epicenter of New Year’s Eve celebrations that include Miami’s Orange Drop in Downtown, Key West’s Red Shoe Drop on Duval Street, and Fort Lauderdale’s Anchor Drop at Southwest Second Street.

Key West man accused of threatening to kill victim on Facebook Messenger

A 25-year-old Key West man was arrested on a felony charge Thursday after authorities said he threatened to kill another man in messages sent through Facebook Messenger.

Ohio man tried to lure underage girl to Key West Holiday Parade for sex meetup, cops say

An out-of-state visitor is facing two felony charges in the Florida Keys after deputies said he was busted in an undercover sting trying to arrange a sexual meetup with an underage girl.

80+ rodent droppings force Key West restaurant closure, plus rat in kitchen at bar near FIU

Grand Café on Duval Street in Key West was forced to close after inspectors uncovered an alarming rodent infestation.

Fake movie money turning up across Monroe County, deputies say

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office on Monday warned residents and businesses after reports of counterfeit movie money circulating in the Lower Keys, including Key West.

Key West celebrates Fantasy Fest on Duval Street

Key West started to celebrate Fantasy Fest, a Halloween-themed street festival on Duval Street.

Former Key West official, contactor each indicted following federal investigation

A former Key West building official has been indicted on several charges, along with a local contractor, following an extensive investigation, officials said Monday.

Woman dies while snorkeling in waters off Key West

A 44-year-old Key West woman died Wednesday after authorities say she was found unresponsive while snorkeling off the coast around 12:30 p.m.

Violent Oklahoma felon accused of threatening 2 with knife, gun while visiting Key West

Oklahoma felon Edward James Guidry was considered an “armed and dangerous” wanted man in 2021 before he was caught in Texas and locked up back in the Sooner State after being convicted of, among other things, pointing a gun at someone.

Gun-toting Key West woman goes berserk over ‘stolen’ phone that was in her car the whole time: Cops

Police arrested a Key West woman on three felony charges Friday night after they said she made armed threats over a “stolen” phone that was never actually stolen at all.

Florida removes rainbow-painted crosswalks in Key West, makes a mess in Delray Beach

In Key West, there were four rainbow crosswalks at Duval and Petronia streets in the city’s Pink Triangle neighborhood, also known as the city’s “Gayborhood.”

FDOT extends deadline to remove Key West rainbow crosswalk amid dispute

The fight over rainbow crosswalks in Florida continued Wednesday as Key West city leaders faced the same outcome as Delray Beach in a hearing before the Florida Department of Transportation.

Jimmy Buffett: ‘A Trip Around The Sun’

“Jimmy Buffett: A Trip Around The Sun” will air at 7 p.m. Saturday, showcasing the life and legacy of the beloved singer, songwriter, author, actor and businessman who made Key West his home.

Key West festival honors Jimmy Buffett with music, margaritas and memories

The Parrots and Margaritas 5K kicked off one of many events during the four-day “Just a Few Friends Festival,” honoring the life, legacy and music of Jimmy Buffett.

Key West marks Jimmy Buffett weekend

“Jimmy Buffett: A Trip Around The Sun” is set to air on Local 10 News at 7 p.m. on Saturday, as Key West celebrates the legacy of the beloved singer, songwriter, author, actor, and businessman.

Key West woman accused of harvesting protected queen conch

A Key West woman is facing multiple charges after state wildlife officers confirmed on Tuesday that she illegally harvested queen conch, a protected species in Florida waters.

Protesters in South Florida to fight back against state orders to remove rainbow crosswalks

Protesters are expected to hit the streets of South Florida Monday to fight back against state orders to remove rainbow crosswalks in places like Fort Lauderdale, Miami Beach and Key West.

Monroe County Sheriff’s Office employee arrested for DUI

A civilian employee working for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office has been arrested.

Fort Lauderdale mayor, Miss Bouvèè speak out against Florida order to remove rainbow crosswalks -- even at Pulse memorial

Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis joined the voices who oppose the Florida Department of Transportation’s order to remove rainbow crosswalks.

Monroe County School District hosts open houses ahead of students’ return to class

There was an open house on Tuesday at Key Largo, an A-rated public elementary and middle school in the Monroe County School District.

FDLE: Key West man arrested on child abuse material and bestiality charges

A Key West man is facing multiple felony charges after investigators say he uploaded disturbing content involving both children and animals.

Florida law targets colored crosswalks, prompting outcry from local communities

A new Florida law cracking down on non-standard street art is drawing criticism from community members and local officials, who say the move threatens public expression and identity.

Key West woman accused of using bear spray on pair to avenge death of chicken crossing road

A Key West woman claimed she used bear spray on another driver to “teach her a lesson” for running over a chicken crossing the road, according to an arrest report obtained by Local 10 News on Tuesday.

Rental boat stolen from the Florida Keys ends up in Cuba

A boat rented in Key West crossed international waters and was found in Cuba.

South Miami mayor hopes lawsuit will help cities decide ‘without fear’ if ICE agreement works

South Miami Mayor Javier Fernández said he was disappointed that Key West officials had decided to allow an immigration law enforcement partnership.

Key West reverses course again, will enter immigration enforcement agreement

To the sound of boos and frustration, Key West commissioners voted four to two on Tuesday to enter into a 287(g) agreement.

‘They are the heart and soul’: Key West debates next steps after vote to void immigration agreement

Tensions flared and emotions ran high at a packed Key West City Hall Tuesday as city commissioners revisited their stance on cooperating with federal immigration enforcement under the controversial 287(g) agreement.

Florida Keys man marks birthday by doing meth, stealing Conch Train and picking up riders, cops say

Key West police say a man told officers, “Today is (my) birthday” after being told he was under arrest for stealing a Conch Tour Train on the Fourth of July.

Key West commissioners to decide on ICE agreement following threatening letter from state attorney general

Commissioners in Key West will meet this week to decide whether to honor an agreement with U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Key West commissioners vote to void agreement requiring police partnership with ICE

A busy city commission meeting was held on Monday in Key West that ended with residents standing and applauding.

Speed boat operator arrested over crash killing woman in Florida Keys

A 48-year-old Miami Beach man was arrested on Friday to face charges over a boat crash that killed a 28-year-old Hialeah woman in the Florida Keys.

Keys deputy arrested for pulling knife on couple who ‘intervened’ as he battered woman, cops say

Key West police officers took a Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputy into custody on a felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and two misdemeanor battery charges ― and it’s not the 42-year-old’s first time on the other side of the law.

Florida-based Silver Airways cancels all flights

Silver Airways is grounded, according to a post on social media by the company.

Key West police seek help identifying burglary suspect caught on camera

Police in Key West asked for the public’s help Saturday in identifying a man suspected of burglarizing a mobile detailing van that they said was parked in Old Town early Saturday morning.

Saharan dust brings hazy skies, heat to South Florida

South Florida residents and visitors can expect hazy skies and sweltering heat this weekend, as another surge of Saharan dust drifts across the region, keeping tropical development at bay but pushing air quality and humidity levels higher.

Keys charter captain admits ‘that’s me’ on video stabbing shark out of ‘revenge,’ cops say

An investigation into a Snapchat video of someone repeatedly stabbing a bull shark led state wildlife officers to arrest a Florida Keys man working as a charter captain Thursday.

Storms threaten afternoon plans in South Florida as front stalls over region

Clouds are building across South Florida as a stalled front is expected to bring multiple rounds of thunderstorms across the region on Saturday afternoon, prompting residents and visitors to adjust their outdoor plans heading into the weekend.

Police: Wanted felon fails to get away after crashes, duo’s help in taxi in Florida Keys

Brittan Smith, a drug offender on probation, was back behind bars after she failed to get away from detectives in the Florida Keys, police reported Thursday.

Double stabbing suspect found hiding in backyard in Key West, cops say

Key West police investigated a double stabbing Wednesday afternoon and confirmed they arrested the suspect after finding him hiding in the backyard of a home.

Fantasy 5 ticket worth over $117K sold at Key West grocery store

A Fantasy 5 ticket worth more than $117,000 was recently sold at a grocery store in Key West, Florida Lottery officials said Saturday.

Florida Keys gets new reverse osmosis plant to strengthen emergency water supply

A new reverse osmosis water treatment facility is now open in the Lower Keys, providing a backup supply of drinking water during emergencies and peak demand periods.

Police: 2 men shot in Key West, gunman in custody

Police are investigating a shooting in Key West.

Man accused of abusing Key West senior with dementia

Key West police arrested a 48-year-old man on an elder abuse charge Sunday after they said he seemed “more interested in exploiting” a dementia patient than caring for him.

Key West’s top building official charged with 7 more felonies; city attorney brother faces another

Key West Building Department Director Rajindhar Ramsingh is facing seven more felony charges and his brother, the city attorney, is facing an additional felony one week after they, along with the city’s chief code enforcement official, were arrested on evidence tampering charges.

Key West city attorney, 2 other officials indicted on felony charges

Key West’s city attorney, along with two other top officials, have been indicted by a grand jury, according to Monroe County prosecutors.

Key West woman wields sign, threatens family with death for ‘taking up a centimeter’ of parking: Cops

A Key West woman threatened a girl and her family in a parking dispute, police said in an arrest report obtained by Local 10 News on Tuesday.

Pipe bomb, guns, ‘chemical materials’ found at man’s Key West home, police say

A Key West man is now the subject of a federal investigation after officers found a pipe bomb and a cache of weapons at his home, authorities said. They said it all started with a traffic stop.

Key West businessman accused of murdering 21-year-old will be released on bond

Businessman Lloyd Preston Brewer III, accused of murdering former high school football player Garrett Hughes outside a Key West liquor store in 2023, will be getting out of jail.

‘Deeply disturbing’: Florida Keys men sexually abuse child for months, prosecutors say

Two Florida Keys men face the possibility of spending the rest of their lives in prison after they were accused of sexually abusing a 10-year-old child on separate occasions last year.

911 service back up in Florida Keys after outage

911 emergency telephone services were down in the Florida Keys Friday afternoon, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

Man jailed for attempted murder after charging Key West cop with ‘large knife,’ police say

A man is facing attempted murder and aggravated assault charges after Key West police said he charged at an officer with a “large knife” and then barricaded himself in an apartment over the weekend.

Another child dies following Key West apartment fire, bringing death count to 4

Another child has died following an apartment fire in Key West that left three others dead as well, authorities confirmed to Local 10 News Tuesday.

Man found guilty of murdering 14-year-old brother in Islamorada

A Florida Keys judge found a man guilty Thursday of murdering his 14-year-old brother in 2020 — and trying to kill his father.

Video shows Cuban migrants make landfall near Key West airport

A suspected migrant landing was reported along the seawall near Key West International Airport on Saturday afternoon.

Steroids, ‘pink cocaine’ lead to firefighter’s arrest on 5 felonies, deputies say

Deputies said “ongoing complaints of drug activity” at a South Florida firefighter’s home led to the first responder’s arrest on multiple felony drug charges on New Year’s Eve.

18 Cuban migrants come ashore near Key West airport; 2 hospitalized

Authorities took more than a dozen Cuban migrants into custody late Sunday night after they landed near Key West International Airport.

$Key West police ID man they say fired gun in Duval Street parking lot fracas$

Key West police ID man they say fired gun in Duval Street parking lot fracas

Key West police arrested a man they said opened fire off Duval Street early Tuesday morning amid a brawl that sent the victim — headbutted by another participant — to the hospital.

Suspected parking dispute on Key West’s Duval Street leads to shot fired, person airlifted

Key West police said they took “several suspects” into custody after an “altercation” along Duval Street early Tuesday morning, leading to one shot being fired. Prosecutors said one person was airlifted after suffering a head injury during the fight.

Researchers ‘ready to respond’ as Florida Keys marks 1 year since start of spinning fish phenomenon

It’s a somber anniversary in the Florida Keys.

Key West man accused of shining laser gloves into police cars, faces 3 felonies

A Key West man is facing multiple criminal charges after authorities accused him of donning gloves with built-in lasers and shining the lights into police vehicles early Monday morning; one officer said it nearly caused him to crash into another cop while driving.

Photos: Key West celebrates Halloween with Fantasy Fest

The Fantasy Fest’s “It’s a 90s Neon Cosmic Carnival!” march was on Friday in Key West.

Video shows Coast Guard rescue 2 northeast of Key West

The Coast Guard released a video Saturday of a recent rescue at sea northeast of Key West.

Florida Keys residents, visitors feel impact from Hurricane Milton’s outer bands

The Florida Keys felt the effects of Hurricane Milton as its outer bands began bringing strong winds and high surf to the region, disrupting daily life and drawing concern from residents and visitors alike.

Keys residents, charter captains brace for Hurricane Milton

As Hurricane Milton approaches, life in Key West is on hold for many, especially those who rely on the waters for their livelihood.

Florida Keys schools closing Wednesday as Milton approaches

Public schools in the Florida Keys will be closed Wednesday as Hurricane Milton approaches the Sunshine State, according to a school district social media post.

Hurricane Helene’s rain bands affect Key West; drains clog and streets flood

Hurricane Helene was moving fast Thursday on the Gulf of Mexico. The wide Category 2′s rain bands affected the Florida Keys. Waves crashed into the anchored concrete Southernmost Point Buoy in Key West.

Key West preparing for impact of strengthening Hurricane Helene

The effects of Hurricane Helene could be felt in the lower Florida Keys on Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

Hurricane Helene: Monroe public schools to close Thursday; Miami-Dade and Broward schools announce changes

Monroe County Public Schools announced all of the schools and districts’ offices will be closed on Thursday as part of preparations for Hurricane Helene’s impact in Florida.

Grand jury report into Keys Trauma Star drug theft scandal released, lambasting county ‘cronyism’

A scathing Monroe County grand jury report into a wide-ranging narcotics theft scandal centering around the county fire department’s air ambulance program — leading to four indictments — sharply criticizes county officials for lacking “integrity and accountability” and fostering a “caustic and cronyistic environment.”

Longtime Monroe County administrator indicted; latest Keys official facing criminal charge

Former Monroe County Administrator Roman Gastesi became the latest official in the Florida Keys to face a criminal charge as prosecutors announced his indictment on a felony charge by a grand jury.

High-ranking South Florida fire rescue officials indicted in drug theft case

A grand jury has indicted the medical director and a division chief of a South Florida fire department for their involvement in a flight nurse drug theft scandal, prosecutors said Friday.

Firefighter arrested for DUI after high-speed crash in Key West, police say

A Texas firefighter was arrested for driving under the influence after a dramatic high-speed crash in Key West late Wednesday night, police confirmed Thursday.

Florida Keys tourism PR head facing 28 criminal charges in wake of audit

A man contracted to help promote the Florida Keys to visitors from around the world is now facing more than two dozen criminal charges over allegations that he made false statements about payments to a non-existent company.

Man corners woman in Margaritaville bathroom, exposes self, Key West police say

Key West police arrested an out-of-town visitor over the weekend after they said he followed a woman into a bathroom at a popular restaurant, cornered her and exposed himself.

Florida Keys residents, business owners brace for Tropical Depression Four

Preparations are underway in the Florida Keys as residents brace for the possible impact of Tropical Depression Four.

10 Cuban migrants apprehended after being found in Key West

Thirty Cuban migrants are now in the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol after making landfall Wednesday on the Marquesas Keys -- uninhabited islands west of Key West.

Over 30 suspected Cuban migrants come ashore in Key West

Authorities responded to a migrant landing on Tuesday morning in Key West.

Officials seek help IDing man found dead in Florida Straits after escaping Cuba

Officials need the public's help identifying a man who died in the Florida straits after escaping Cuba on a homemade vessel.

Woman jailed in Key West after son found covered in sores, living in roach-filled car, cops say

Key West police arrested a west Miami-Dade woman on a felony charge early Thursday morning after they said she and her 8-year-old son were found living in a filthy car filled with trash and insects.

More than 120 migrants land in Key West

More than 120 migrants landed in Key West early Wednesday morning, U.S. Border Patrol and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.

Cleveland Browns player arrested for DUI after driving into Key West restaurant, police say

Cleveland Browns defensive end Lonnie Phelps is facing a drunken driving charge in South Florida after police said he slammed an SUV into a Key West restaurant Wednesday night.

Deputy’s idea to save ducks evolves into a criminal justice reform program in Key West

Sheriff Rick Ramsay is proud of the peculiar collection of over 150 animals at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Animal Farm, a USDA-certified zoo at the Stock Island Detention Center in Key West.

Here is the weather forecast for Memorial Day in South Florida

Memorial Day is off to another warm and humid start.

Charges added for Key West man accused of stealing tractor, driving it to college campus to kill 2 people

A Key West man is now facing two additional counts of attempted murder after being accused of stealing a tractor from a golf course and driving it to the College of the Florida Keys.

Key West native is taking over Miami’s seafood scene

A Key West native is taking over Miami’s seafood scene.

They made it! Women traveling 500 miles down Florida’s East Coast in toy cars arrive in Key West

Two women, Cassie Aran and Lauren, completed their 500-mile drive down the coast of Florida in an attempt to claim the Guinness World Record for “Longest Distance by Toy Cars.” The woman chronicled the extraordinary adventure — that took over three months — on social media to support their fundraising campaign aimed at helping and rescuing animals.

‘Gut-wrenching’: First rescued sawfish dies as scientists continue search for answers

Heartbreak at the MOTE Marine Lab and Aquarium in Sarasota after the first rescued smalltooth sawfish from the Florida Keys had to be humanely euthanized on Thursday.

Police officers fire at man on tractor causing havoc outside college dorm in Key West

Police officers fired at a vandal who struck a patrol car with a tractor on Saturday at the College of the Florida Keys in Key West.

Key West PD: Man arrested on DUI charge after driving car into ocean

A man was arrested over the weekend in the Florida Keys after he drove his car off the road, into the ocean, authorities confirmed Monday to Local 10 News.

First responders, good Samaritans rush to save motorist who crashed while riding scooter in Key West

An officer’s body-worn camera captured a rescue in progress in Key West, following a traffic crash last month.

Pastor accused of sexually battering teen back in Keys jail after capture in Texas

Marathon pastor Monte Chitty appeared sullen, with his head down, as two uniformed sheriff’s deputies led him from a van into the Key West jail Friday following his capture in Texas earlier in the month.

Keys deputy who broke into ex’s home also illegally looked up info on her new lover, sheriff says

A Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputy accused of breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s Key West home is now also accused of illegally accessing law enforcement computer systems to look up information on the man she was now dating, according to the agency.