Lamont Ferguson, a 49-year-old man, was found murdered in a northeast Miami home on Sunday, September 10, 2023. The home, located along Northeast 77th Street near 5th Avenue, had been taken over by squatters. The property owner, Maria Escandell, a local immigration lawyer, reported that squatters had broken into the house, changed the locks, and occupied the property as if they owned it.
Despite her report to the police, they advised her to stay away from the property to allow for an investigation.
The police investigation led to the arrest of 45-year-old Larry March. March was apprehended during a routine traffic stop in Doral on Wednesday, following the discovery of Ferguson's body. During the traffic stop, police found March fidgeting and unsteady, with "cocaine cookies," a gun, and a machete inside his vehicle.
While in custody, March's girlfriend provided crucial information to the police. She alleged that she was present at the squatter-occupied home on the day of Ferguson's murder and witnessed March shooting Ferguson four to five times before they fled the scene. Additionally, she reported that March had kidnapped and physically assaulted her earlier on the day of his arrest, becoming agitated after seeing text messages from other people on her phone. He allegedly pulled out a gun, waved it at her, and forced her into his car, where he punched her repeatedly. She managed to escape just hours before March's traffic stop.
The gun recovered from March's vehicle was analyzed by police and determined to be the murder weapon used in Ferguson's killing. March was subsequently charged with second-degree murder, kidnapping, battery, and cocaine possession. He was denied bond and faced a judge multiple times during the week following his arrest to address these charges.
March's girlfriend's testimony and the physical evidence found in his vehicle were key factors in linking him to Ferguson's murder. The case highlights the complexities and dangers associated with squatter situations and the swift action taken by law enforcement to apprehend the suspect.
