RICHMOND HEIGHTS, FL — A homeowner in the Kendall area of Miami-Dade County fatally shot a man who attempted to force his way into the residence Saturday evening, while three other suspects remain at large, authorities said.
The incident occurred around 6:40 p.m. near Southwest 110th Avenue and 141st Street in the Richmond Heights neighborhood. According to Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office investigators, four individuals approached the home and refused to leave when ordered to do so by the homeowner. The situation escalated when one of the suspects reportedly tried to enter the house by force.
The homeowner, who was inside the residence with his mother at the time, fired two shots after one suspect entered the home and advanced toward him. Doorbell camera footage reviewed by CBS News Miami showed the homeowner initially holding up the firearm without pointing it or placing his finger on the trigger in an attempt to deter the suspects. He told reporters he only fired when the intruder crossed the threshold and charged at him.
Emergency responders from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue arrived shortly after and transported the injured suspect, later identified as 26-year-old Quanterry Alvin Whitley, to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. The other three individuals fled the scene in an unknown direction and have not yet been located.
The homeowner, who described the shooting as the worst moment of his life, expressed remorse over the incident and said he had never used his firearm before. “I’ve never hurt anyone a day in my life,” he told CBS News Miami. “I just wanted them to leave.”
As of now, no charges have been filed, and the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office continues its investigation. Detectives with the department’s Homicide Bureau are urging anyone with information about the three fleeing suspects to contact authorities.
In the aftermath of this traumatic event, a nearby resident expressed shock over the incident, noting that the neighborhood has been peaceful for decades.
While this incident appears to meet the legal standards for self-defense under Florida law, since the suspect reportedly entered the home and charged the homeowner, it also highlights an important consideration in home defense: the risk involved in leaving the safety of a locked and secured residence. The homeowner said he stepped outside to confront the group, and it was only after he went back inside that one of the suspects forced entry and rushed him. In a situation where it’s four against one, stepping outside can quickly shift the advantage to the aggressors. Remaining inside a locked home provides both physical security and legal clarity. Once that barrier is breached and someone forces their way in, you may have no choice but to defend yourself. Responsible gun ownership includes understanding that staying secured inside your home is often the safest and most effective position until the threat escalates to a point where defense is unavoidable.
