Two Men Killed in Early Morning Shooting Outside Walgreens in Northwest Miami-Dade

An early morning shooting outside a Walgreens pharmacy in Northwest Miami-Dade left two men dead on Friday, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. The violent incident unfolded around 2 a.m. at the intersection of Northwest 7th Avenue and 95th Street, after a ShotSpotter alert notified law enforcement of gunfire in the area.

When deputies arrived, they discovered a grim scene — two adult men dead, one lying on the ground and another inside a vehicle, both suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Video from the scene showed their bodies covered with yellow tarps as investigators surrounded the area with police tape.

Authorities have not yet released the names of the victims, and the motive behind the shooting remains unclear. The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office stated that no suspects are currently in custody, and investigators are not actively searching for additional persons of interest at this time.

Eyewitnesses described hearing multiple rounds fired in quick succession. One nearby resident, Marvin Romero, told reporters he heard “about six shots coming from the Walgreens parking lot,” prompting him to look outside and see flashing lights moments later.

Footage from NBC6’s Chopper 6 showed deputies focusing on a black Chevrolet Tahoe parked outside the store. Evidence markers were placed beside the driver’s side door, near what appeared to be a firearm, suggesting a possible altercation or exchange of gunfire.

The Walgreens parking lot remained cordoned off for several hours as investigators with the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Homicide Bureau processed the scene and collected evidence.

When a family loses a loved one to a violent act like a shooting, the grief is compounded by confusion, unanswered questions, and often, a long wait for justice. Beyond the criminal investigation, families may also have civil legal rights under Florida’s Wrongful Death Act (Florida Statutes §768.16–768.26) to pursue accountability through a wrongful death claim.

A wrongful death claim is separate from any criminal prosecution and allows surviving family members to seek compensation for the financial and emotional impact of the loss. In shootings that occur on commercial properties, such as a Walgreens parking lot, there may be multiple liable parties, depending on the circumstances.

1. Potential Liability for Property Owners or Businesses

Under Florida Statute §768.0755, business owners have a legal duty to maintain reasonably safe premises for customers and visitors. This includes taking measures to protect against foreseeable criminal acts — a concept known as negligent security.

In cases like this, potential factors that could establish negligence include:

• Lack of security guards or surveillance cameras in high-crime areas.
• Poor lighting or blind spots in parking lots.
• Failure to respond to previous security threats or incidents.
• Broken or non-functioning security gates or alarms.

If the Walgreens location was aware of prior criminal activity in the area and failed to increase security measures, the property owner could face liability for failing to provide adequate protection.

2. Filing a Wrongful Death Claim

Florida’s Wrongful Death Act (§768.19) allows certain surviving family members — typically a spouse, children, or parents — to recover damages when a loved one’s death is caused by another party’s negligence or misconduct.

Damages may include:

• Funeral and burial expenses
• Loss of companionship and protection
• Mental pain and suffering (for parents of a deceased child or spouse)
• Lost income and support the deceased would have provided
• Medical expenses incurred before death

The personal representative of the deceased’s estate must file the claim within two years of the date of death under Florida’s statute of limitations (§95.11(4)(d)).

3. Role of Criminal Investigations in Civil Cases

Even if the shooter is never identified or criminal charges are dropped, families can still pursue civil compensation. Civil liability is based on a preponderance of the evidence, meaning it must be shown that negligence was more likely than not a contributing factor.

In this case, if evidence shows that Walgreens or its property management company failed to implement reasonable safety measures despite a known risk of violent crime in the area, the families of the victims may have grounds for a negligent security lawsuit.

The Flanagan & Bodenheimer Injury and Wrongful Death Law Firm has represented numerous families in negligent security and wrongful death cases, holding property owners and businesses accountable for failing to provide safe environments.

These cases often involve in-depth investigations into:

• Police records showing prior incidents of violence on the property.
• Surveillance footage and witness testimony.
• Corporate safety policies and security budgets.
• Lighting, fencing, and alarm system inspections.

If your loved one was killed due to a shooting or violent crime on commercial property, you may be entitled to compensation under Florida law

We handle every case with compassion, attention to detail, and an unwavering commitment to justice. Our attorneys will thoroughly investigate your claim and pursue maximum compensation on your behalf.

Call (305) 638-4143 for a free consultation in English or Spanish.