One man is dead and another in critical condition following an early morning shooting in a parking area near a nightclub.
On Wednesday afternoon, many questions remained unanswered as police searched for the person or people responsible for the shooting. The shooting happened about 4:30 a.m. along the 6900 block of Miramar Parkway. The area includes a nightclub called Stingerz, a sandwich shop and a Shell gas station.
The two men were shot inside their car. The man who died was in the passenger's side of the vehicle. Investigators said he got out of the car after the shooting and could have also been hit by a passing car. Reports state that an altercation may have led to the shooting.
Police have not released the identities of either man and said they are investigating whether they were inside the nightclub before the shooting.
A witness told authorities that a silver Honda fled the scene. A car fitting that description was later stopped in Miami Gardens, but it apparently yielded no suspects. No arrests have been made so far.
Fatal shootings that occur during altercations are typically filed as second degree murder charges. That's because second degree murder, unlike first degree murder, does not require the State to prove premeditation. A second degree murder is one that is said to occur in the heat of the moment, or without the perpetrator having deliberating or given the matter consideration. While the charge requires proof of intent to kill, it does not require proof that the accused thought about killing the alleged victim before carrying out the act.
Second degree murder carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Eric Matheny is a criminal attorney representing clients charged with all criminal matters in Miami-Dade and Broward.