Charges include first-degree murder and attempted murder after a Dec. 30 shooting that unfolded during a Facebook Live.
MIAMI, Fla. — Miami-Dade authorities arrested two men Monday in the shooting death of a Florida City resident during a home invasion that was partially broadcast on Facebook Live on Dec. 30, officials said. A second victim survived with gunshot wounds.
Prosecutors filed counts of first-degree murder during a home invasion robbery against Christopher Hankerson, 36, and Roderick Terrell Everett, 34, along with attempted first-degree murder with a deadly weapon and felon-in-possession charges. Investigators said the video clip, shot inside the home during the break-in, captured the moments before multiple shots were fired and became a key piece of early evidence. The case landed at the start of the new year amid heightened scrutiny of violent crimes shared online and the challenges of preserving, authenticating and presenting social media footage in court. Detectives said more forensic testing is pending as they reconstruct the sequence of events.
Police and fire rescue units were dispatched to a home near Northwest 14th Avenue and Second Avenue shortly after the Dec. 30 broadcast ended. Officers found two men with gunshot wounds; one later died at a hospital. Officials and relatives identified the deceased as 45-year-old Carl Melvin. The surviving victim, not named publicly, was stabilized and interviewed by detectives when his condition allowed. Florida City officials said community tips poured in within hours as the video spread. “We were able to move fast because people recognized faces and voices,” a Florida City Police spokesperson said.
Arrest affidavits state that Hankerson and Everett were taken into custody Jan. 12 after leads from the neighborhood canvass and analysis of digital records. Authorities said the livestream did not capture the entire attack but showed enough to connect movements and clothing to other footage pulled from nearby homes and businesses. Ballistics analysts are comparing shell casings recovered inside the residence with weapons seized during follow-up searches. Detectives have not publicly stated which suspect fired which shots, saying that determination will rely on lab work and statements.
Records show both men face a no-bond hold on the capital murder count. A first appearance hearing was expected early this week in Miami-Dade court, where prosecutors will outline the alleged home-invasion robbery and the circumstances of the fatal shooting. The State Attorney’s Office said the formal information filing will include aggravators tied to a killing during the commission of a felony. Investigators are also awaiting the full autopsy report on Melvin and additional DNA and fingerprint results from items recovered at the scene.
Neighbors described waking to rapid gunfire in the otherwise quiet block. Small candles, flowers and a handwritten note now sit by Melvin’s front steps. “He looked out for folks on this street,” said neighbor Jordan Miles, who helped place the memorial Tuesday. City Commissioner Walter Thompson said the incident has rattled residents but also provided investigators with unusually direct evidence. “It is rare to have a crime recorded as it happens,” Thompson said. “That video is painful to watch, and it is a critical exhibit.”
As of Wednesday morning, Hankerson and Everett remained in Miami-Dade custody while detectives continued to collect footage and process tips. Officials said they plan to release a more detailed timeline later this week and will announce hearing dates once the court docket is set.
Author note: Last updated January 14, 2026.