Doorbell camera captured the moments before shots were fired around 6:40 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — A suspected intruder was shot and killed and three others got away after a group tried to force into a Richmond Heights home on Saturday evening, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. The homeowner told reporters he fired when one man rushed him inside the house.
Deputies said four people arrived at the single-story home near Southwest 141st Street and 110th Avenue shortly before dusk on Nov. 22, then tried to get in by force. Investigators said the homeowner, who was inside with his mother, shot during the confrontation, striking one person. The case has drawn attention because portions of the encounter were recorded by a doorbell camera, and because detectives are still searching for three people believed to have fled the scene. The incident remains an active homicide and home-invasion investigation.
Neighbors reported hearing several sharp cracks at about 6:40 p.m., followed by shouting. In an interview outside his home, the homeowner, who asked not to be named, said he first warned the group to leave and displayed his firearm. “I’m literally holding the gun up… trying to scare them to get them to leave,” he said. He told reporters he stepped inside at his mother’s urging; when one man charged toward him through the doorway, he fired twice. Deputies arrived within minutes to find one person wounded on the property. That person was later pronounced dead at a hospital, investigators said. The other three ran in an unknown direction, and no arrests had been announced as of Wednesday.
Detectives said evidence collected at the scene includes shell casings, the doorbell camera video, and statements from multiple witnesses on the block. The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office is working to identify the deceased man and determine a precise cause of death. Officials said the homeowner remained at the scene and was cooperating with investigators. Authorities have not released the type of firearm used, the number of rounds fired, or whether the suspects were armed when they approached the entry. No other injuries were reported. Patrol units canvassed for additional security video from nearby homes and businesses Sunday and Monday.
Richmond Heights, a neighborhood just south of Kendall, saw a string of property crimes this fall, according to residents interviewed at the scene, though deputies did not immediately connect those cases to Saturday’s attempted break-in. The block, a mix of older ranch houses and renovated homes, sits within a few miles of major corridors that can quickly funnel cars out to U.S. 1 or the Don Shula Expressway. The sheriff’s office has responded to other high-profile violent incidents in the broader Kendall district this month, heightening concerns about guns and late-day confrontations at homes and small businesses. Officials emphasized that each case is separate and cautioned against drawing conclusions until detectives finish interviews and lab work.
Investigators said the case will be reviewed by homicide detectives and later by prosecutors to determine whether any charges are warranted, which is standard after a fatal shooting. The agency said it would release the dead man’s name once next of kin are notified. Detectives planned additional neighborhood canvassing and a briefing later this week if there are developments. They are also seeking the three people who fled for questioning about how the approach to the home was planned and whether a vehicle was staged nearby. No timetable was given for the medical examiner’s report.
On the block Tuesday, neighbors swept driveways and pointed out camera mounts as deputies moved in and out of the property. “It was still light out when we heard it,” said Cynthia Alvarez, who lives a few doors away. “Then sirens, and the helicopters.” Another resident, who gave only his first name, Luis, said he has checked his own cameras and turned the footage over. The homeowner, voice shaking, called it “the worst night of my life” and added, “I never wanted to take a life.” A small cluster of relatives arrived with water and a change of clothes as tape still fluttered across the front yard.
As of late Wednesday, detectives said they were still working to identify and locate the three people who ran from the scene. The deceased man’s identity, the autopsy findings and any charging decisions are expected in the coming days, pending the medical and investigative reviews.
Author note: Last updated November 26, 2025.