An 81-year-old man from Hialeah, identified as José Antonio López, is facing a second-degree murder charge after allegedly shooting the owner of the workshop where he was employed in Medley, Florida. According to Telemundo 51, the incident was triggered when the shop owner demanded that López stop sleeping on the premises without permission.
The victim has been identified as Delio Alberto Trasobares, 61, the founder and owner of Metro Express Inc., a company specializing in engineering, construction, and transportation located at 9390 NW 109th Street. The tragic event unfolded on Wednesday morning around 7:28 AM, and Trasobares succumbed to his injuries shortly after being airlifted to a hospital.
The Dispute Over Sleeping at the Workshop
According to an arrest report cited by NBC Miami, Trasobares had discovered weeks prior that López was spending nights at the business without his approval and had warned him against it.
On the morning of the shooting, Trasobares arrived at the location and, upon finding López there once more, demanded he leave immediately.
López's response was immediate and deadly: "Without argument, the accused approached a shelf approximately three feet away and retrieved a .40 caliber firearm," police described in the arrest report. After hurling insults at the owner, López fired a shot to his chest. Trasobares attempted to retreat but collapsed at the workshop's entrance.
A Calm Reaction Amidst Chaos
While a witness at the scene contacted emergency services, López reportedly stepped outside to smoke a cigarette and began riding a tricycle around the parking lot until authorities arrived, as detailed in the police report.
Upon the officers' arrival, López declared, "I did it." He also informed them that "the gun was next to the microwave."
Investigators discovered a 9mm firearm, another .40 caliber gun, a spent shell casing, and a bullet at the scene. López complained of chest pains and was taken to the hospital. After being discharged, he was taken to the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, where he confessed to the shooting, stating he was "fed up" and "couldn't take" the victim's insults and complaints any longer.
Legal Proceedings and Denial of Bail
On Friday, López appeared virtually before Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Mindy Glazer from his hospital bed, where he remained due to high blood pressure. The judge found probable cause for the second-degree murder charge and denied bail, as reported by Local 10 and Univision.
During the hearing, Judge Glazer inquired whether López owned his home. "No, no. I don't. I have nothing," López replied, suggesting a potential backdrop of housing instability.
López was subsequently transferred to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Family of the Victim Demands Justice
Blanca Trasobares, Delio’s ex-wife and mother of one of his four children, expressed her grief to Univision Miami, reflecting the outrage of those who knew the businessman.
"Very hardworking, a great father, and he helped everyone he could; he didn't deserve to die the way he did. He didn't deserve it. The one who did this was very ungrateful," she stated.
Blanca also highlighted Delio's loyalty to his employees: "All his workers have been with him for 20, 25 years. That says a lot about the person he was, and he was a very good man."
Trasobares founded Metro Express Inc. on November 21, 1996, and held an active certified general contractor license in Florida since 1990, valid until 2028. The investigation is being conducted by the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office Homicide Bureau.
Understanding the Medley Shooting Incident
What led to the shooting at the Medley workshop?
The shooting was reportedly triggered when the workshop owner, Delio Alberto Trasobares, demanded that José Antonio López stop sleeping on the premises without permission.
What was José Antonio López's reaction after the incident?
After the shooting, López calmly smoked a cigarette and rode a tricycle around the parking lot until authorities arrived. He confessed to the shooting upon their arrival.
Has José Antonio López been granted bail?
No, Judge Mindy Glazer found probable cause for the second-degree murder charge and denied bail for López.