Detectives are reviewing a livestream and neighborhood cameras after gunfire inside a first-floor apartment just after midnight.
FLORIDA CITY, Fla. — A man was shot to death and a second was wounded early Tuesday during a double shooting that unfolded while a Facebook Live stream was running inside a Florida City apartment, authorities said. Police were called around 12:30 a.m. to the area of Northwest 14th Street and Northwest 2nd Avenue, where officers found two men with gunshot wounds.
Investigators with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office homicide bureau have taken the lead, saying they are gathering digital evidence and interviewing witnesses to determine what sparked the shooting. Local officials identified the man who died as Carl Melvin. The second man was taken to a hospital in stable condition, according to initial reports. People at the scene who said they knew Melvin told reporters the violence may have started as a robbery, and that portions of the incident were captured during a livestream. Authorities have not announced any arrests or described a motive.
By sunrise, crime scene tape ringed a modest, first-floor unit at the complex off Northwest 14th Street, and evidence markers dotted the pavement outside. Video shared with reporters captured gunshots inside the apartment, followed by a frantic voice saying, “I got shot. One dead … Please come get me … my cousin’s dead.” Florida City Commissioner Walter Thompson confirmed the dead man’s identity as Melvin. “This is a tragedy for his family and for our city,” Thompson said, adding that detectives were working to piece together the sequence of events.
Authorities said patrol officers reached the apartment within minutes of the 12:30 a.m. call and radioed for fire-rescue. Paramedics treated both victims at the scene before transporting the survivor. Investigators focused on the doorway and living room area of the unit while canvassing nearby buildings for camera footage. Friends who gathered behind the tape described Melvin as a “funny guy” who was active on social media. The sheriff’s office confirmed the survivor’s condition but did not release his name, citing the ongoing investigation. The exact number of shots fired remained unknown midmorning, as technicians processed the interior for shell casings and other trace evidence.
Florida City sits near the southern end of Miami-Dade County, where shootings at small apartment complexes have led to several recent homicide probes. Detectives on Tuesday worked both the physical scene and the online trail left by the livestream. Investigators planned to secure a copy of the video, verify its authenticity, and compare the timeline against 911 call logs and body-worn camera time stamps. Neighbors said they were jolted awake by a burst of gunfire shortly after midnight, then watched first responders move in. One resident said the complex has basic cameras on the breezeways, but it was unclear whether they recorded clear angles inside the unit.
As of Tuesday afternoon, no charges had been announced. Detectives said they were reviewing witness statements, phone metadata, and security footage from the block around Northwest 14th Street and Northwest 2nd Avenue. The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an autopsy to determine Melvin’s exact cause and manner of death. Officials also planned to examine the apartment for signs of forced entry and collect any firearms for ballistics testing to see whether the rounds match known weapons from other cases. A briefing time for additional updates had not been set.
Outside the taped-off doorway, friends consoled family members and swapped details about what they saw online. “It’s right after Christmas, before New Year’s,” said Jonathan Osbun, who said he knew the victim. “It’s not something that should be happening every day.” A woman who identified herself as a relative called Melvin a devoted friend who “was always trying to make people laugh.” Residents described a heavy police presence that lasted through the morning while detectives photographed the courtyard and towed a car parked near the unit for processing.
By late afternoon Tuesday, the apartment remained sealed as a crime scene. Detectives continued canvassing the complex and the surrounding block for additional video. Officials said more information, including potential suspect details, would be released after they complete preliminary interviews and lab work in the coming days.
Author note: Last updated December 30, 2025.