Flight to Cuba Redirected for Arrest of Hialeah Shooting Suspect: Latest Updates

A commercial flight bound for Havana had to be redirected back to Miami International Airport (MIA) this past Sunday after authorities identified a man on board as the suspect in a violent shooting that occurred hours earlier in Hialeah.

The suspect was apprehended following a joint operation between the Hialeah Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security. The operation successfully intercepted the individual, who was allegedly attempting to flee the country to escape justice, as reported by local media.

Shooting Outside a Popular Café

Police reports indicate that the incident unfolded around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday in front of La Lunita Café, located at 2200 West 8th Court, a bustling area in Hialeah.

The suspect, identified as Daniel Odio-Suarez—also listed as Daniel Odiosuarez in official records—is a 36-year-old resident of Cutler Bay. He is facing charges of second-degree attempted murder, according to Miami-Dade County jail records.

An arrest report details that the incident began with an argument between Odio-Suarez and the victim, whose identity has not been disclosed.

A security guard at the café, who witnessed the event, told investigators that the altercation quickly escalated into violence. According to his account, Odio-Suarez pulled out a firearm, chased the victim around his own Mercedes-Benz truck, and fired multiple shots.

At the scene, officers recovered three spent shell casings, corroborating the witness's statement.

Victim Airlifted with Gunshot Wounds

After the shooting, police found the victim with gunshot wounds to the legs. Due to the severity of the injuries, the victim was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he remains hospitalized.

Authorities later confirmed that the injuries were not life-threatening, although the victim's exact recovery status has not been disclosed.

Escape to the Airport

Following the shooting, Odio-Suarez fled the scene in his vehicle and headed straight to Miami International Airport. As detectives continued to investigate the shooting, they located his car parked in a garage at the airport, raising immediate suspicions.

Soon after, authorities confirmed that the suspect had boarded an American Airlines flight bound for Havana, Cuba. With assistance from the Department of Homeland Security, authorities acted swiftly, ordering the plane to return to the Miami airport terminal before it continued its international route.

Once on the ground, agents detained Odio-Suarez, who was then taken to the Hialeah Police Department for formal processing.

According to the police report, Odio-Suarez had purchased the ticket for $406 with the explicit intention of avoiding capture. During questioning following his arrest, the accused offered what the report describes as a "full confession" of the shooting.

Subsequently, he was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where he remained in custody as of Monday afternoon.

During a court appearance on Monday, a judge denied him bail, meaning Odio-Suarez will remain in custody as the legal proceedings against him continue.

The case has attracted attention due to the swift action taken by authorities in locating the suspect and coordinating the redirection of an international flight, a rare measure reflecting the seriousness of the charges he faces.

The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not provided additional details about the motive behind the argument that led to the shooting or the identity of the victim.