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CBS News Miami gets rare access to MDPD’s forensic lab where gun crimes are solved

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CBS News Miami gets rare access to MDPD’s forensic lab where gun crimes are solved


MIAMI – CBS News Miami visited the Miami-Dade Police Headquarters to investigate how local authorities solve gun-related crimes, following a report from our sister station in Minneapolis about delays with the ATF’s E-trace system.

While the E-trace system has caused case delays elsewhere, Miami-Dade Police use advanced forensic science and a national database to develop investigative leads.

CBS News Miami was given rare access to the department’s forensic lab to see how their process works.

The first room on our tour was the shooting lab, where firearms recovered from crime scenes are tested. The gun we saw was used as part of a simulated mock crime scene event to illustrate the entire process. After the specialist in the shooting lab loaded the gun, he put the firearm in position to fire into a specialized water tank.

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“The water slows down the bullets so we can recover it, and use the markings on that bullet and compare to any evidence that’s recovered,” shared Gabriel Hernandez, who helps lead the lab at Miami-Dade Police Headquarters.

He’s worked there for 19 years, overseeing a group that’s generated thousands of leads to help solve Miami-Dade criminal investigations.

“If there’s a gun that’s been recovered, then the main question is, is this the gun that fired those casings and/or bullets,” shared Hernandez.

The mission: match the firearm with the ammunition recovered.

After the test bullets were fired, we moved to a different lab section with microscopes. Under a microscope, we saw how they closely examined test-fired bullets from the shooting tank compared to one recovered from our mock crime scene.

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“And then compare those markings on those two items under one field of view,” added Hernandez.

“Markings all along the edge here are a signature of that firearm, unique to that firearm much like a fingerprint is to a person.”

In this case, we saw it was a perfect match.

However, in real cases, detectives do not always recover a gun from a shooting investigation, or the ballistic evidence collected does not match the firearm found.

When that happens, the department turns to technology known as NIBIN. It stands for the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, run by the federal government.

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This national computer database stores recorded ammunition markings from evidence collected at crime scenes nationwide for comparison.

In this part of the lab, we witnessed them taking a bullet and inserting it inside a computer that then scans it into the database for record keeping.

“We have thousands and thousands of images in the system,” said Hernandez. “It captures those images, and then they’re compared to the entire database of all the casings and all the other test fires that we’ve entered into the system. The database sends back a list of potential matches.”

A trained forensic expert then compares the markings on a computer to see if there’s a match to other ballistic evidence collected from another crime scene, helping to solve other investigations.

They can process the evidence that’s been cleared and submitted to the lab in just a few hours.

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MDPD shared this statement with us:

“In 2001, the Miami-Dade Police Department started imaging casings in the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), which is run by the ATF. Prior to that, casings were imaged in DRUGFIRE, a system run by the FBI. Currently, there are over 11,000 NIBIN leads from casing evidence entered at the MDPD Forensic Services Division Crime Laboratory. Approximately 600 NIBIN leads have been made since the beginning of 2024.”

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Family displaced after car crashes into southwest Miami-Dade home, leaving structure unlivable

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Family displaced after car crashes into southwest Miami-Dade home, leaving structure unlivable


A car crashed into a southwest Miami-Dade home Sunday evening, leaving the structure unlivable and displacing a family of five, authorities said.

The crash happened near the intersection of Monroe Street and Douglass Drive and involved two vehicles, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. Doorbell camera video captured the moment of impact and the chaotic aftermath as neighbors rushed to help.

Five family members were inside the home at the time of the crash, including an 84-year-old woman. No one inside the house was injured, but the damage to the home was extensive.

Cars crashed into a Southwest Miami-Dade home Sunday evening, making the house unlivable and forcing a family of five to leave, according to authorities.

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Surveillance Footage from the doorbell camera


“I was frantic. I was scared,” said Ken Charles, a relative who rushed to the scene to check on his grandmother. “I had to jump up and head straight over here and see what’s really going on.”

A woman who lives in the home, who asked not to be identified by her full name, said she initially thought something far worse had happened.

“I didn’t know if it was a gunshot, if it was a bomb, if it was a police chase,” she said. “So I looked outside and saw the car smoking.”

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Emergency crews transported three people involved in the crash to a hospital with injuries ranging from stable to critical, officials said. Doorbell video shows neighbors and occupants of the vehicles attempting to help the injured moments after the collision.

Residents in the neighborhood said speeding and drivers running stop signs are ongoing concerns in the area, though they said crashes this severe are uncommon.

“There is no reason for him to be going so fast,” the resident said.

The American Red Cross responded late Sunday evening to assist the displaced family with temporary housing. Charles said the family does not have insurance and is now facing major financial challenges.

“We really do need the help,” he said. “It’s very difficult, and it’s not easy. We don’t know how we are going to get by.”

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Authorities have not released an update on the conditions of those injured or said whether any charges will be filed. The investigation remains ongoing.



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These Miami pizza spots rank among America’s best

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These Miami pizza spots rank among America’s best


Miami is many things: a beach town, a nightlife capital and a place where people will gladly queue for a cafecito. But increasingly, it’s also becoming one of the country’s most serious pizza destinations.

That’s according to the newly released 50 Top Pizza USA 2026 ranking, one of the world’s most influential pizza guides, which just named three Miami pizzerias among the top 15 in the United States—and gave the city another major nod in its ranking of the country’s best slice shops.

Leading the local charge is Francesco Martucci, which landed at No. 5 nationally, making it the highest-ranked Florida pizzeria on the list. The restaurant finished behind only a handful of heavy hitters, including New York’s top-ranked Una Pizza Napoletana and California standouts Pizzeria Sei and Tony’s Pizza Napoletana.

Two more local favorites—La Leggenda and ‘O Munaciello—tied for 11th place nationwide, giving Miami three pizzerias in the guide’s top 15. That’s a remarkable showing for a city that, until relatively recently, wasn’t exactly mentioned in the same breath as New York or Naples when pizza debates broke out.

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And if your pizza preference involves a quick foldable slice rather than a sit-down pie, Miami earned another bragging right. Miami Slice was named the third-best pizza slice shop in the country, trailing only New York’s L’Industrie Pizzeria and Washington, D.C.’s Slice & Pie.

The rankings were unveiled on Wednesday during an awards ceremony in New York. This year’s guide features 116 pizzerias across 29 states, with Florida earning 10 total entries—trailing only New York and California for overall representation. For a city better known for stone crabs and Cuban sandwiches, that’s a pretty impressive slice of recognition.

The 50 best pizza spots in the U.S. for 2026

  1. Una Pizza Napoletana — New York, NY
  2. Pizzeria Sei — Los Angeles, CA (tie)
  3. Tony’s Pizza Napoletana — San Francisco, CA (tie)
  4. Razza — Jersey City, NJ
  5. Truly Pizza — Dana Point, CA
  6. Francesco Martucci — Miami, FL
  7. Don Antonio — New York, NY
  8. Jay’s — Kenmore, WA
  9. Ribalta — New York, NY (tie)
  10. Robert’s — Chicago, IL (tie)
  11. Leña — Cleveland, OH
  12. Ken’s Artisan Pizza — Portland, OR
  13. La Leggenda — Miami, FL (tie)
  14. ‘O Munaciello — Miami, FL (tie)
  15. Valentina’s — Madison, WI
  16. Stretch Pizza — New York, NY
  17. Audace — New York, NY
  18. Pasquale’s — South Kingstown, RI (tie)
  19. Pizza Secret — New York, NY (tie)
  20. Pizzeria Beddia — Philadelphia, PA
  21. Ops — New York, NY
  22. Partenope Ristorante — Dallas, TX
  23. MPN – Mission Pizza Napoletana — Winston-Salem, NC
  24. Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana — Darnestown, MD
  25. Kesté — New York, NY
  26. Flour House — San Luis Obispo, CA
  27. Il Forno — San Antonio, TX
  28. Fabrica Pizza — Tampa, FL
  29. Nardò — Huntington Beach, CA
  30. GRANA — Portland, OR
  31. Pizza Delicious — New Orleans, LA
  32. Coals — Louisville, KY
  33. Craft 64 — Scottsdale, AZ
  34. Sho Pizza Bar — Nashville, TN
  35. Bricco — Haddon Township, NJ
  36. Salsa — New York, NY
  37. Antico Pizza — Atlanta, GA
  38. Zeneli — New Haven, CT
  39. Posto — Somerville, MA
  40. Andrew Bellucci’s Pizzeria — New York, NY
  41. A Modo Mio — Arlington, VA
  42. Tribute Pizza — San Diego, CA
  43. Pasquale Jones — New York, NY
  44. Pizzeria Florian — East Aurora, NY
  45. Penelope Pizza — Tucson, AZ
  46. Pizza Baby — Charlotte, NC
  47. Coda di Volpe — Chicago, IL
  48. Angeli’s Pizzeria — Baltimore, MD
  49. Lincoln Winebar — Mount Vernon, NY
  50. Hapa Pizza — Beaverton, OR
  51. Si Cara. — Cambridge, MA
  52. Nostrana — Portland, OR
  53. Quattro — Boston, MA
  54. Lucky Dough Pizza — Pensacola, FL



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Miami lands commitment from Rivals300 LB Noah Glover

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Miami lands commitment from Rivals300 LB Noah Glover


Miami has scored a huge win on the recruiting trail.

Rivals300 Haymarket (Va.) Battlefield linebacker Noah Glover committed to the Hurricanes on Sunday night shortly following his official visit.

“I love Coach (Corey) Hetherman and Coach (Mario) Cristobal. I feel like Coach Hetherman is a great coach and can develop me. He can help me get to my ultimate goal, which is the NFL. I know I would be in good hands at Miami. The atmosphere is really nice. Coral Gables is a really nice area. Everybody is close. It’s family oriented. The coaches have their sons there. I really love it there.”

Glover picked Miami over fellow finalists Georgia, Notre Dame and Texas A&M

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Miami defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman led the way in Glover’s recruitment. Hetherman visited Glover throughout the offseason and really moved the needle on his official visit.

“I love how Coach Heatherman runs the defense,” Glover said. “He has a lot of blitz packages and allows his linebackers to play free. Nothing really holds them back. They just attack and go. It’s always next play mentality. I feel like that’s a great fit for me.”

Miami head coach Mario Cristobal also made a big impact.

“He’s always sending me videos and quotes,” Glover said. “He stays in touch and calls me, too. My contact with him has been very good. He’s building a great team. You saw it last year. They almost won the national championship. He’s creating a good team and culture. Everything there is next level.”

At 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, Glover is ranked as the No. 19 linebacker and No. 199 overall prospect in the country, per the Rivals Industry Ranking.

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Miami now has 17 commitments in the 2027 recruiting class — Glover, five-star Long Beach (Calif.) Poly cornerback Donte Wright, five-star Miami (Fla.) Carol City wide receiver Nick Lennear, Top 100 Dotahn (Ala.) High cornerback Ai’King Hall, Top 100 Garner (N.C.) High linebacker AJ Randle, Top 100 Lombard (Ill.) Montini Catholic quarterback Israel Abrams, , Rivals300 Houston (Texas) Langham Creek defensive lineman Ezekiel Ayangbile, Rivals300 Phenix City (Ala.) Central offensive lineman Jatori Williams, Rivals300 Poplarville (Miss.) High running back Ty Keys, Rivals300 Fort Pierce (Fla.) John Carroll offensive lineman Sean Tatum, four-star Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Cardinal Gibbons tight end Demarcus Deroche, four-star Pearland (Texas) High defensive lineman Demarco Jenkins, four-star Davie (Fla.) McArthur defensive back Jaylyn Jones, three-star Gainesville (Ga.) High offensive lineman Tyler Ford, three-star Key West (Fla.) High defensive lineman Josh Johnson, three-star Lake Worth (Fla.) Santaluces EDGE Jayvon Dawson and three-star Davie (Fla.) McArthur defensive back Sherrod Gourdine .

Miami entered the day with the No. 4 recruiting class nationally.



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