A Miami homeowner shot and killed an intruder in his backyard over the weekend after he refused to show his hands to the homeowner, and police say an unknown man is on the run.
Authorities said the shooting occurred shortly after 34-year-old Whitney Liberal was involved in a rollover crash on Interstate 75 near Northwest 186th Street. WPLG-TV reported.
“It's been 30 years and thankfully it wasn't a robbery, I was getting away with something I'd done before.”
Miami-Dade police told the department that Liberal and two others fled the scene of the crash, and that Liberal ran behind a fence along the interstate and jumped over the fence, in the 18000 block of Northwest 91st Court. He said he entered the backyard of a residence.
WTVJ-TV reported According to arrest documents, the homeowner heard his dog barking, looked out the window and noticed a ladder being moved against a high wall in the backyard that borders Interstate 75. That's what it means.
Police told WPLG that the homeowner confronted Liberal around 6 a.m., had a gun, and fired two shots when Liberal didn't show his hands. Investigators told police that one bullet struck Liberal in the leg.
“My neighbor was on the balcony with a gun and a lantern,” neighbor Alfonso Nieto told WPLG.
The homeowner spoke to WTVJ about the incident, but declined to show his face, saying, “This is the first time in 30 years, but thankfully it wasn't a burglary, it was just getting away from something I had done before.”
According to WPLG, an arrest report states that Liberal told investigators that he fled the scene of the accident and went into the backyard while trying to call his girlfriend to come pick him up. He added that he also said that he injured his leg.
Police told WPLG they added that when they searched Liberal, they found marijuana and pills believed to be ecstasy.
Liberal was being treated at a hospital for his injuries and was scheduled to be booked into jail Monday afternoon, WPLG reported, citing authorities.
Jail records show he is charged with three counts of possession of a controlled substance, one count of trespassing on unenclosed cartilage and one count of possession of marijuana, according to WPLG.
“It was shocking because something like that has never happened in this community,” neighbor Ofelia Martinez told WPLG.
You can view the video report here and here About that incident.
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