Alejandro Linares, a 40-year-old food delivery driver, was fatally shot on June 8, 2024, while delivering food at the Mirage at Sailboat Cove apartment complex in Opa-locka, Florida. The incident occurred when Linares got out of his car and was confronted by an individual. A neighbor reported hearing two gunshots and then seeing the woman who had ordered the food performing CPR on Linares, who had been shot in the chest. Despite the CPR and subsequent medical efforts, Linares did not survive.
The shooting is believed to have been an attempted armed robbery, although the exact motive remains unclear. Surveillance footage captured the moments leading up to the shooting, showing Linares standing by his car before being approached by the suspect. The footage also shows the suspect pulling out a gun and firing a shot, after which Linares stumbled to the ground.
Following the incident, police investigated and initially detained a person for questioning, but no arrests were made immediately. However, on June 18, 2024, police arrested 22-year-old Dawayen Anton Bendross on a second-degree murder charge in connection with Linares' death. Bendross was identified through surveillance footage and a witness who recognized him from a "need to identify" flyer. Forensic testing also matched the gun found in Bendross's possession to the .45 caliber casing recovered at the crime scene.
Bendross was booked into jail and appointed a public defender. During his court appearance, it was revealed that Bendross has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, is bipolar, and has been Baker Acted several times. He was ordered to be held without bond and faces additional charges for battery while in jail. His next court hearing is scheduled for August 8, 2024.
The case has been under ongoing investigation, with authorities releasing surveillance video to the public to provide further context on the events surrounding Linares' death. The video shows the moments before and after the shooting, highlighting the confrontation between Linares and Bendross.
