A heated dispute over a parking spot escalated into an alleged attempt at murder in Miami, Florida. Elder Cruz, age 51, has been accused of shooting his cousin multiple times following an altercation that revolved around where to park a vehicle. NBC Miami reports that the incident happened at SW 27th Street and SW 31st Place.
Court records indicate that the argument took a perilous turn when the victim, in a comment that seemed to challenge Cruz's authority in his own household, said, “he didn’t know why he was acting tough when his wife ran the house,” according to Law&Crime. this led Cruz to allegedly unveil a Glock 19 and ask, “Do you want to see the type of man I am?”, according to NBC Miami.
Cruz reportedly fired the weapon, grazing his cousin's wrist and striking him three times in the thigh. The victim managed to find refuge in a bedroom within Cruz's home while the suspect's wife called the authorities. As disclosed by NBC Miami, law enforcement arrived to find Cruz in possession of the Glock along with three additional magazines. The gun was identified as having been reported stolen in 2021.
The aftermath of this violent confrontation resulted in the victim being hospitalized, though their current condition has not been made public. Cruz was detained by police and is now facing serious charges including attempted felony murder, prompting judicial mandates that have placed restrictions on their ability to contact one another. In a statement obtained by Law&Crime, Cruz is presently being held without bond and his legal representation is underway, with his financial status rendering him unlikely to qualify for a public defender. His cousin, identified only as Salinas was taken for emergency treatment at Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center.
