Miami, Fla. — Authorities in Miami are reaching out to the community following a violent tragedy in the Little Haiti neighborhood that resulted in the death of a local father and left another man critically injured. The incident, marked by deadly gunfire, unfolded just before 1 a.m. on a Friday near the intersection of Northeast 1st Avenue and 77th Street.
Upon arrival at the scene, police discovered two men had been shot. Robin Fernandez, a 35-year-old father of three, was pronounced dead at the location. The second victim, identified as 32-year-old David Pichinte, was swiftly transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital and remains in critical condition.
The night of the shooting was filled with chaos, captured partially on surveillance video which showed the sudden appearance of the gunman and the panic that followed. Witnesses report that the shooting began abruptly when the perpetrator, described as a young man, approached a group outside their home under the guise of asking for alcohol.
Marlon Castro, a relative of both victims, recounted the horrifying moment the gunman withdrew a firearm and began firing erratically, chasing people around the building. “He then started shooting — Fernandez was shot six times,” Castro disclosed.
In an attempt to intervene, Pichinte reportedly grappled with the shooter. He was shot during the struggle, as confirmed by Castro, who is also Pichinte’s brother-in-law. Though the motive behind the attack remains unclear, the aftermath has left both victims’ families pleading for justice.
Liz Ortiz, Pichinte’s wife, shared with local media the profound impact the incident has had on their family, noting that her husband is “fighting for his life” after being severely wounded. The couple has three children who are now grappling with the potential loss of their father.
Fernandez leaves behind a grieving family, with two children in the U.S. and another child residing in El Salvador. Plans are underway to repatriate his remains to his home country.
Both men were described by loved ones as hardworking construction workers who dedicated their off-hours to their families. The community has been deeply shaken by this violent act, stirring concerns about safety and the rising specter of gun violence in their neighborhood.
Investigators are urging anyone with information about the shooting or the identity of the gunman to come forward. Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers has opened a tip line available at (305) 471-TIPS (8477), welcoming anonymous tips that could lead to an arrest or significant breakthrough in the case.
As the Little Haiti community mourns, the broader conversation about gun violence within Miami neighborhoods continues, prompting local leaders and residents to seek solutions and preventive measures to safeguard their communities. Meanwhile, the families of the victims await justice and hope for recovery in what has become a fight for one man’s life and the memory of another lost too soon.