An investigation into the shooting incident that occurred early Saturday morning at the Martini Bar in CityPlace Doral, resulting in two fatalities and seven injuries, is currently ongoing, as stated by the police.
Although police officers did not disclose the identities of the victims on record, two individuals at the scene confirmed to Channel3 NOW that the slain bar security guard was George Castellanos.
Detective Alvaro Zabaleta, a spokesman for the Miami-Dade Police Department, expressed condolences to the family during a news conference, stating, “Our heart goes out to that family.”
The two individuals referred to a Facebook account linked to Castellanos, which indicated that he had attended Doral Academy Charter Middle School and G. Holmes Braddock High School.
The individual who allegedly shot and killed Castellanos also perished at the bar.
Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez reported that police officers “neutralized” the gunman. Lopez commended the heroic actions of the officers, stating, “The heroic actions of our police officers today prevented an incident from escalating.”
Among the seven injured was a police officer, identified by Lopez as having four years of experience. This officer applied a tourniquet to control the bleeding.
According to Zabaleta, the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue team transported the officer, who was in stable condition, along with a civilian, to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, while the others were taken to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital.
Regarding the origin of the gunfire that struck them, Zabaleta stated, “Whose gunfire was the one that struck them? It is way too early to know.”
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement was investigating the police-involved shooting, while the Miami-Dade Police Department was handling the homicide investigation.
Lopez expressed gratitude that the injured officer was alive and stable, stating, “Anytime a law enforcement officer is shot, it tears at the core fabric of our community, but we are grateful that he is alive and in stable condition.”
Additionally, representatives from the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office were present at the scene. Lopez mentioned that police officers from neighboring departments in Medley and Sweetwater provided assistance.
