MEDLEY, Fla. — A longtime civilian employee with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) has been arrested in connection with a road rage shooting that left another driver wounded in the face.
Emilio Humberto Rodriguez, 54, appeared before a judge Sunday after being taken into custody early Saturday morning. He faces one count of second-degree attempted murder with a deadly weapon, according to jail records.
The shooting happened Friday night near Northwest 87th Avenue and Northwest 64th Street. Deputies with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said Rodriguez and 27-year-old Eury Cerda got into an argument after pulling over and exiting their vehicles.
“It appears to have been a road rage altercation that took nothing but a few minutes — a spontaneous, heat-of-the-moment exchange between two individuals,” said defense attorney Raquel Leon.
Authorities said Rodriguez pulled a gun, shouted at Cerda, and fired a single shot as Cerda turned toward him. The bullet struck Cerda in the face.
The victim then drove himself to an urgent care facility in Doral, where blood was found on his SUV and the clinic’s front door. He was later transported by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital, where he remains in stable condition.
According to an arrest report, Rodriguez admitted to firing a “warning shot” near the victim’s head. Deputies said nearby security cameras captured the shooting.
With help from the Doral Police Department, deputies located Rodriguez and arrested him at his home.
MDFR confirmed that Rodriguez has been with the department for 18 years and has now been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.
“While the incident occurred off duty, we expect all members of our organization to uphold the highest standards of conduct and responsibility,” MDFR said in a statement.
As of Monday, Rodriguez remained held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, with his bond yet to be set. His next court hearing is scheduled for Nov. 7.
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