Gabriela "Gabi" Aldana, a 17-year-old Hispanic female, tragically lost her life on May 24, 2019, in Miami, Florida. Gabriela was standing in a shopping center parking lot with friends at the Hookah Palace in Miami-Dade's Tamiami neighborhood when she was approached by an unknown vehicle. Shots were fired from inside the car, striking Gabriela. The vehicle sped off before Miami-Dade Police units arrived.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue transported Gabriela to Kendall Regional Medical Center, where she later died.
The investigation into Gabriela's death revealed that she was an unintended victim of a drive-by shooting. The incident occurred around 2:05 a.m., and it was later determined that the shooting was related to a long-standing dispute between two individuals who were not connected to Gabriela. The Miami-Dade Police Department worked tirelessly on the case, and nearly two years later, on March 30, 2021, they announced the arrest of three suspects in connection with her murder.
Yondeivis Wongden-Hernandez, 26, of Doral, was charged with second-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. Randy Rodriguez-Fernandez, 21, of Doral, and Carlos Paterson-Torres, 29, of Opa Locka, were both charged with accessory after the fact. The arrests were made following the issuance of warrants on March 29, 2021. The suspects were taken into custody the next day. The Miami-Dade Police Department and the Aldana family expressed their gratitude to the investigators and the community for their support and efforts in bringing justice for Gabriela.
The case garnered significant attention, and the Aldana family requested privacy during the difficult times following the arrests. They also expressed hope that the individuals responsible for Gabriela's death would receive the maximum penalty under the law. The community's support and the relentless work of the investigators played a crucial role in solving the case and providing some measure of closure to Gabriela's family.
