Jose Luis Contreras Carmona, aged 39, tragically lost his life on August 27, 2020, in Miami, Florida. The incident occurred following a heated argument inside a barbershop near Florida International University (FIU). The dispute escalated and spilled into the parking lot of a shopping center located at Southwest 8th Street and 107th Avenue. During this altercation, Carmona was shot multiple times.
Despite being rushed to Kendall Regional Trauma Center, he succumbed to his injuries.
The Miami-Dade Police Department launched an investigation into the shooting. Initially, the suspect fled the scene in a white vehicle, prompting a "Be on the Lookout" alert for a white Mercedes-Benz SUV. The investigation quickly identified Guillermo Alejandro Gazapo-Figueroa, aged 26, as the primary suspect. According to reports, Gazapo-Figueroa had gone to the barbershop for a haircut when the altercation with Carmona began. Witnesses stated that Carmona allegedly slapped Gazapo-Figueroa, who then waited in the parking lot before retrieving a firearm from his fanny pack and opening fire.
Gazapo-Figueroa later surrendered to the Miami-Dade Police Department's Homicide Bureau. He was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. During his bond court hearing, his defense attorney requested house arrest, but the judge ordered him to be held without bond. The case against Gazapo-Figueroa proceeded, with the charges reflecting the severity of the crime.
This tragic incident highlights the devastating consequences of violent disputes and the swift actions taken by law enforcement to bring the perpetrator to justice. The community around FIU was left in shock, mourning the loss of Jose Luis Contreras Carmona while grappling with the violent nature of his death.
