Gunfire at Miami-area bar kills security guard, injures officer and six others, police say
A shooting early Saturday morning left two people dead and seven others injured at a popular outdoor mall in Miami-Dade. On Sunday evening, police identified and revealed the names of the gunman and victims.
According to Miami-Dade police, a dispute broke out at Martini Bar at CityPlace Doral around 3:30 a.m. Saturday. A security guard, 23-year-old George Alejandro Castellanos, intervened and was shot to death by the gunman, 37-year-old Jamal Wayne Wood. Two Doral police officers who were at Martini Bar on security detail exchanged gunfire with the shooter.
Two unidentified Doral police officers were injured in the shooting, and five innocent bystanders were shot, including 28-year-old Lester Williams Gonzalez, 30-year-old Yaniris Jerez, 34-year-old Frank Miguel Jerez, 48-year-old Sonia Muñoz Torres, and 57-year-old Gerard Patrick Delaney.
The gunman, Wood, was also killed in a shootout with responding officers shortly after fatally shooting Castellanos.
“One of the officers, the one who was struck, with four years of service, applied a tourniquet on himself immediately after being struck. Even after he discharged his firearm, the extensive training that our police officers undergo is a testament to why that officer is alive today,” Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez said during a news conference Saturday morning.
“Coincidentally, one year ago to the day, we conducted a mass casualty and multi-agency active shooter drill here at the same establishment,” Lopez added.
Lopez told the Miami Herald that the officer had military training and knew what to do.
“Both discharged,” Lopez said, speaking about the gunman and the two officers on duty. One of the officers shot the gunman. “There were only three firearms. They went in without delay. He not only saved the life of patrons, but he saved his own life by using the tourniquet.”
The officer was taken to Jackson Memorial, where he is reported in stable condition, Miami-Dade Det. Alvaro Zabaleta said.
Of the six bystanders who were wounded, two were critically injured and four were in stable condition, and all were transported to trauma centers at Jackson and HCA Kendall, Zabaleta said. Two of the victims are women, four are men, Zabaleta told the Herald, updating initial reports.
Martini Bar Ownership, the owners of the nightclub, sent a statement to the Herald through their media representative.
“Our hearts are broken by the tragedy that unfolded at our venue early this morning that took the life of a dedicated security guard and injured several others. Our staff, patrons, and this community are like family to us, and we are completely shaken by this senseless act of violence. We’re working diligently to ensure that all those affected by this feel supported in every way possible. We are conducting our own internal investigation, as well as cooperating fully with all authorities. This trauma will be felt deeply by us all for a long time to come, and we are here for our community today, and always.”
A multi-agency investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Miami-Dade Police Department and Doral Police Department is underway. Detectives are interviewing witnesses. There have not been any arrests.
“At this time it’s too early to tell who was shot by who, but we’re actively investigating that incident,” Lopez said. “We will be shut down here for the next few hours while police conduct the investigation, but the scene and the surrounding areas are safe and secure at this time.”
In a statement sent to the news media, CityPlace Doral, a mixed-used urban center of residences, restaurants, shops and entertainment sites that opened in 2017, said that the shopping plaza’s south parking garage and businesses surrounding the Plaza Fountain areas were closed but the north side of the 55-acre development was expected to open at 6 p.m. Saturday.
Miami Herald staff writers Charles Rabin and Rebecca San Juan contributed to this report. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
