A man accused of shooting another driver in the face during a Halloween road rage incident in Doral is now facing an attempted murder charge, according to court documents.
54-year-old Emilio Rodriguez was arrested late Friday and charged with second-degree attempted murder for allegedly shooting a man in the face. The victim was hospitalized and remains in stable condition at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital.
A judge determined on Sunday that there was probable cause to hold Rodriguez without bond. He is expected to appear before a district judge on Monday. During the bond hearing, Rodriguez’s attorney argued that the shooting was not premeditated, claiming Rodriguez acted out of fear after the victim allegedly got out of his car and tried to enter Rodriguez’s vehicle.
Rodriguez’s Background
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Employed by Miami-Dade County as a fire safety supervisor for Miami-Dade Fire Rescue for 18 years
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No prior criminal record
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His family and an MDFR lieutenant attended the hearing via Zoom to show support
What Happened on Halloween Night?
Around 7:45 p.m. on Halloween, police responded to the area of Northwest 87th Avenue and 64th Street in Doral.
According to the arrest affidavit:
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Both men exited their vehicles and began arguing.
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As the victim walked back to his Maybach, Rodriguez allegedly pulled out a gun and yelled at him.
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When the victim turned around, Rodriguez fired, hitting him in the face.
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Rodriguez then got into his vehicle and drove away.
The victim’s car stopped less than a mile away in Downtown Doral, near busy Halloween crowds of trick-or-treaters.
Police said the incident was caught on camera, helping investigators from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (MDSO) and Doral Police locate and arrest Rodriguez. After being read his Miranda rights, Rodriguez admitted to firing the gun but claimed it was a “warning shot”.
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