A tragic episode of gun violence in Miami's Little Havana has concluded with the arrest of four men in the murder of Desiree Gonzalez. The 39-year-old woman was shot in the neck and killed in a shootout that police believe she was not the intended target of. According to Local 10 News, the altercation occurred late December outside the Habibi Mini Market, with suspects Jeferzon Mendoza and Cristian Reyes facing first-degree murder charges, while Mauricio Baquedano and Abraham Estrada Solano have been charged with accessory after the fact and evidence tampering.
The dispute reportedly began when two unknown males pulled a gun on Estrada Solano and Baquedano, prompting a response which saw the group swiftly to return on two motorbikes to confront them. During the confrontation, it is alleged that Mendoza and Reyes opened fire, discharging 17 rounds and fatally hitting Gonzalez as she exited the store. Surveillance footage and other investigative work led to the identification and subsequent arrests of the individuals. Mendoza is also facing an attempted murder charge in a separate incident, as reported by Local 10 News.
In connection to the Little Havana shooting, Miami Police officials stated that Desiree Gonzalez, seen wearing a red jacket and black hat in surveillance footage, was caught in the crossfire and later succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. An 18-year-old has been arrested and charged with her murder. During the incident, authorities said the suspects quickly fled the scene on their motorized bikes heading westbound, while the intended targets left the scene northbound on a bicycle. The arrest report details that police used surveillance video and cell phone data to place 18-year-old Jeferzon Noel Mendoza Herrera at the scene of the crime, as per NBC Miami.
Further investigation revealed a contact number on Baquedano's phone linked to Estrada Solano, and records obtained by authorities placed his cell phone in the area of the shooting, before, during, and after the incident. In the wake of these findings, Baquedano admitted his involvement in the crime and identified his friends involved. Following a confession from Estrada Solano at his Flagami residence, all four suspects were detained early Friday morning. This case has added to the narrative of Miami's struggle with gun violence, which saw Mendoza implicated in another shooting just a month after the Little Havana incident, according to Local 10 News.
