On November 3, 2023, Eric Contreras, a 21-year-old college student, was fatally shot by his father, David Contreras, at their home in Kendall, Miami-Dade County, Florida. The incident occurred near 10703 Southwest 84th Avenue. David Contreras, 52, called 911 and confessed to police that he had shot his son multiple times during a domestic altercation.
Eric Contreras was a student at Florida International University and a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
His fraternity described him as a caring and loving individual who embodied the fraternity's principles of Virtue, Diligence, and Brotherly Love.
The preliminary investigation suggested that the shooting was a result of a domestic incident, although the exact reasons behind the shooting remain unclear. David Contreras had previously threatened his son with a gun; in May, he shot at the ceiling, and on Halloween, just days before the fatal shooting, he pointed a gun at Eric.
When police arrived at the scene, they found Eric Contreras suffering from gunshot wounds and pronounced him dead at the scene. David Contreras was taken into custody and has been charged with second-degree murder. He was initially held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
David Contreras entered a not guilty plea through his attorney at a formal arraignment in November 2023. His defense team has highlighted that Eric struggled with severe emotional and mental health conditions, which may have been a factor in the incident. Despite this, the prosecution has argued against granting David Contreras bond, citing the severity of the crime.
In April 2024, a judge granted David Contreras release from jail under strict conditions, including house arrest with a GPS monitor. He is not allowed to leave his house except to see a doctor or lawyer and must continue therapy. The judge also stipulated that he cannot live with family members and any visitation with his wife or surviving son requires a doctor's approval.
During court hearings, David Contreras was seen crying and breaking down while listening to the 911 call he made after the shooting. In the call, he expressed remorse and confusion, saying, "What did I do? I was fighting with my son...I lost it, he wouldn't stop."
