A deadly encounter at CityPlace Doral left a security guard dead and seven others injured early Saturday morning when an altercation at the Martini Bar turned into a shootout. Miami-Dade Police named Jamal Wayne Wood, 37, as a suspect who fatally shot 23-year-old security guard George Alejandro Castellanos after a fight broke out inside the bar.
Following the incident, Wood engaged in gunfire with two Doral Police officers, resulting in his death and bullet wounds to one of the officers, according to reports from NBC Miami. The officer, shot in the lower extremity, is now hospitalized in stable condition, and displayed a remarkable presence of mind by applying a tourniquet on himself during the mayhem. A spokesperson from the Doral Police told WSVN about the officer’s quick thinking during the crisis.
Six bystanders were caught in the crossfire and suffered injuries. Among the injured were Lester Williams Gonzalez, 28; Frank Miguel Jerez, 34; Yaniris Jerez, 30; Carlos Milan, 38; Sonia Munoz Torres, 48; and Gerard Patrick Delaney, 57. Notably, Milan was critically injured after being hit by four bullets and is currently being treated at a local hospital. The mother of the slain security guard, Castellanos, mourned the loss of her son, who was a parent to a 2-year-old girl and was anticipated to graduate from Florida International University the following month. "We're broken right now, totally broken," Jeanina Castellanos told NBC Miami.
In response to the shooting, City of Doral officials and the Martini Bar expressed their deep regret over the events. Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez described the day as "an extremely disappointing day in our community," and CityPlace Doral sent out a statement, part of which stated "Our thoughts are with all those involved," noting the venue's commitment to guest safety through increased security measures. Mayor Christi Fraga has announced plans for a special meeting to address nightlife and security concerns in the wake of the tragedy.
The investigations into the shooting have become a multi-pronged effort, with City of Doral Police focusing on the altercation, Miami-Dade Police heading the homicide case, and The Florida Department of Law Enforcement overseeing the officer-involved shooting aspect. This collaborative approach highlights the profound impact the shooting has had on the community, as officials and residents seek to come to terms with the incident that dramatically unfolded at a location where, ironically, mass causality training had been conducted exactly one year earlier.
