MIAMI-DADE, FL- A murder-suicide incident took place in a residential area of southwest Miami-Dade, leaving a local school teacher dead and another person severely injured. The incident took place on Friday around 4:20 p.m. in a house located on Southwest 165th Terrace in the 9900 block.
Upon arrival, Miami-Dade Police discovered a man dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Another man and woman were found at the scene with gunshot injuries, while a second woman was found unharmed. The injured man and woman were immediately transported to Jackson South Medical Center in critical condition.
The injured woman, identified as Maria Cruz, a math teacher at Doral Academy, succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. Doral Academy Principal Eleonora Cuesta expressed her sorrow over the loss of Cruz, praising her dedication, compassion, and love for her students. Cuesta also extended her thoughts and prayers to Cruz’s daughters during this difficult time.
In response to the tragedy, Doral Academy has pledged to provide additional support to its students. The school plans to bring in extra on-site counselors to help students cope with their grief.
According to Miami-Dade Police Det. Angel Rodriguez, the police department is not actively searching for any suspects, confirming the incident as a murder-suicide. The local community, particularly the residents of the Palmetto Estates neighborhood, are still grappling with the shock of the incident. One local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed her fear and uncertainty following the incident. She revealed that the occupants of the house where the shooting occurred were relatively new to the neighborhood.
The circumstances leading up to the shooting remain unclear. However, investigators are looking into any potential history of domestic violence. Raidel Munoz, a neighbor who lives several houses down from the crime scene, expressed his surprise and concern over the incident. Another neighbor, who heard the gunshots from his home, was one of the first to call 911.