Man, 19, accused of Naranja murder

19 hours ago 4

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A antheral is facing a second-degree execution complaint aft Miami-Dade deputies said helium was progressive successful a deadly February shooting successful the unincorporated Naranja area.

Deputies arrested Elton Hightower, 19, of Florida City, connected Wednesday.

He and a co-defendant, whose sanction was redacted from a Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office apprehension report, are accused of sidesplitting 20-year-old Raequan Smith.

According to the report, MDSO deputies responded to the 13800 artifact of Southwest 266th Street astatine astir 11:55 p.m. connected Feb. 7 aft being alerted by ShotSpotter to 39 rounds being fired successful the area.

Deputies said they “discovered aggregate casings connected the country scattered wrong the block.”

According to the report, unit astatine HCA Florida’s freestanding exigency country successful Cutler Bay called MDSO soon aft to study that 2 men had brought Smith successful with “multiple gunshot wounds.”

Doctors pronounced Smith dormant astir 45 minutes aft the shooting.

Authorities said a witnesser came guardant connected April 23 and identified Hightower arsenic a suspect.

“(Redacted) saw the unfortunate lasting connected the broadside of the thoroughfare and (redacted) discharged their firearms towards the victim, past fled the scene,” the study states.

Authorities said cellphone information placed Hightower astatine the transgression scene.

Deputies said they detained Hightower astatine the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building courthouse successful Miami and arrested him aft questioning astatine MDSO’s Homicide Bureau successful Doral.

According to the report, Hightower “denied immoderate involvement” successful the killing.

As of Thursday, helium was being held successful the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center with a enslaved listed successful jailhouse records arsenic “to beryllium set.”