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Miami, FL
Miami federal jury convicts dealership employee of carjacking customer after autopay hiccup
MIAMI – A man who worked at his family’s South Florida car dealership could face more than a decade in federal prison after a jury convicted him of carjacking a customer, officials with the U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday.
Prosecutors said the whole thing stemmed from an autopay issue that caused the victim to miss a loan payment on a 2020 Honda Accord.
The Miami federal jury convicted Erik Hadad, 58, of Aventura, on Tuesday, a DOJ news release states. Hadad worked at Guru Auto Sales, which was located at 2690 S. State Road 7 in Miramar. The business is listed on Google as “permanently closed.”
Authorities said the victim, a 24-year-old Haitian immigrant, bought the car from Guru in October 2023 and was not given a copy of the sales paperwork he signed.
“In making the purchase, the victim understood that he was paying a finance company,” the news release. “What the victim was not aware of was that there was an agreement between the finance company and Guru, and if the victim was late on a payment within the first two months of the loan, then the finance company could demand the approximately $13,800 it paid for the loan back from the dealership.”
Prosecutors continued, “That part of the agreement mattered because the victim’s first payment bounced after he set up autopay, with the victim paying the first installment late and with a late fee in late November 2023.”
Authorities said because of that, the finance company sent Guru a letter on Dec. 14, 2023, saying that the dealership needed to buy the loan back and owed about $13,000.
Prosecutors said the carjacking occurred five days later, even though the victim “was current on his account that day” and the dealership “was expressly told they couldn’t repossess the car.”
Nevertheless, authorities said Hadad followed the victim in a BMW near Miami International Airport.
Prosecutors said when the victim reached a red light at Le Jeune Road and Northwest 31st Street, “Hadad, whom the victim had never met before, got out of the black BMW in the middle of the intersection and approached the victim’s Honda, ripping off the paper temporary tag and aggressively yelling at the victim to get out of the car.”
“The victim was able to get away when the light turned green, but Hadad eventually caught up to the victim” at the MIA Tri-Rail station, authorities said, and Hadad “continued aggressively screaming for the victim to get out of the car.”
“Hadad lifted his shirt to reveal that he had a gun holstered in his waistband, which led the victim to surrender his keys,” the news release states.
The victim, “in shock,” called Miami-Dade police, who arrested Hadad, initially on state charges, and located the gun. The case later became federal as the Honda was, according to a federal indictment, “transported, shipped and received in interstate and foreign commerce.”
Hadad, an Israeli national, is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 9, prosecutors said.
According to the federal carjacking statute, Hadad could spend up to 15 years behind bars.
Copyright 2024 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.
Miami, FL
Video shows deputy shooting teen armed with gun after confrontation in SW Miami-Dade
Body camera video captured the moments when a Miami-Dade deputy was forced to fire his weapon at a teen who was armed with a gun in Southwest Miami-Dade.
According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, the shooting happened on April 2, at around 3:30 p.m. in the area of Southwest 112th Avenue and Southwest 221st Street.
Deputies said that they received a call about threats with a firearm at a park.
When deputies responded, they found four teens, and a confrontation ensued, officials said.
According to an arrest report, the 15-year-old, with a gun, took off running.
Body camera footage shows the deputy running after him, asking him to surrender, and when the teen tripped, he fell, rolled onto his back, and then pointed his gun at the deputy.
The officer was then seen firing several shots at the teen.
In Ring Camera footage, the teen was seen switching the firearm from his left hand to his right, and when he tripped, he was seen with the firearm in his right hand.
An arrest report said the teen was grazed on the ankle and taken to the hospital in stable condition.
Investigators said they recovered a firearm near the teen. The gun was reported stolen in July.
Arrest documents stated that when detectives saw the group of four, a 17-year-old was “clenching his waistband as if attempting to conceal and control a firearm.” He took off into a home, the reports said, and a search warrant was conducted, where they found two handguns in a hallway closet.
The 17- and 15-year-olds were arrested, facing multiple charges ranging from resisting an officer, a minor possessing a firearm, tampering with evidence and assault on an officer.
Deputies recovered a firearm after the shooting.
Relatives of the teens involved said they were upset and looking for answers.
“I want to know, why did they come in unknown cars, jump out and get to shooting?” said Asia Spann, whose nephew was shot. “I want answers.”
She said she tried to find out what happened from people in the community.
“They didn’t shoot no firearms, they didn’t shoot at the police to my understanding,” Spann said. “I can’t even express how I feel.”
Darrell Collins said the teen shot is his cousin, and his two grandsons were also part of the group.
“I don’t understand what’s going on, and I’m here to find out what’s going on because none of them get in no problems,” Collins said. “My cousin don’t ever get in any problems with nobody.”
Keisha Williams said deputies put handcuffs on her son, who was also with the group.
“I’m very upset,” Williams said. “I feel so bad, I feel bad for the whole community over here.”
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating.
Miami, FL
Miami International Airport unveils $14 billion investment in major makeover ahead of World Cup
Miami International Airport (MIA) debuted a new logo and “vibe” Friday night, as Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and airport CEO Ralph Cutie showcased improvements underway as part of a multi-billion-dollar investment.
The two officials, joined by over a dozen people, took an airport tour to highlight changes, including new painting, lighting, moving sidewalks, murals, and an indoor playground. Mayor Cava emphasized the scale of the commitment, stating that the airport is making a “$14 billion investment”.
“This was something I only understood when I became mayor,” she said.
The mayor noted that many of the changes are expected to be completed by 2030. The current effort is a different picture from two and a half years ago, when CBS Miami documented persistent problems with broken escalators and moving sidewalks.
CEO Ralph Cutie credits the difference to hiring a new contractor, adding that the airport now has a “95 percent operational rate”. Upgrades also include renovated elevators and escalators, improvements to restrooms, new lighting, and a central garden center.
Traveler Alex Ginestra, one of the 55 million people who travel through MIA every year, acknowledged the improvements, calling the changes “long overdue,” especially in the international terminals. However, he still feels the airport falls short compared to others globally.
“I’ve been to other airports around the world, and it’s a wow. This is lackluster,” Ginestra said.
Miami, FL
North Miami man accused of stabbing victim 7 times
NORTH MIAMI, Fla. — A North Miami man is facing an attempted murder charge after police say he stabbed another man multiple times at his home, leaving the victim with life-threatening injuries.
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The suspect arrested in the case was identified by North Miami police on Friday as 53-year-old James Mackenzie.
According to an arrest report obtained by Local 10, officers responded around 10:45 a.m. Thursday to the 500 block of Northeast 132nd Terrace in reference to a reported stabbing.
Police said they located Mackenzie with blood on his hands in the backyard near an efficiency at the back of his home.
Investigators conducted a safety sweep of the home and located the victim who they say was “suffering from multiple stab wounds to the chest.”
The report states that the victim was seated in a walker used as a wheelchair and was having difficulty breathing and speaking after he was stabbed.
Police said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue medics transported the victim to HCA Florida Aventura Hospital for treatment.
Hospital staff later told investigators the victim had been stabbed approximately seven times, with at least one wound piercing his heart, according to the report. Police said the victim, who has not yet been identified, remains in critical condition as of Friday afternoon.
Investigators said while inside the home, they found large amounts of blood in a bedroom where the victim was discovered.
They also confirmed that a small folding pocketknife with what appeared to be blood on it was also located inside Mackenzie’s home.
The report states other residents heard an argument between Mackenzie and the victim but did not witness the stabbing.
A surveillance camera inside the home captured audio of the victim saying, “I’m bleeding everywhere, please. I need to go to the hospital,” according to the report.
Police said Mackenzie made several statements that were redacted from the publicly released report before invoking his right to an attorney after being read his Miranda rights.
Jail records show he is facing one count of second-degree attempted murder.
As of Friday afternoon, he was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where his bond was listed as “to be set.”
A motive for the stabbing remains unclear at this time.
Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.
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