A dispute between a resident and the property managers at a Hialeah apartment complex Friday evening led to a shooting and standoff, where seven people died, including the gunman.
Three men and three women were killed in the shooting. The gunman was also killed, shot by Hialeah Police after the SWAT standoff. He was identified as 42-year-old as Pedro Alberto Vargas.
Police were called to the complex at 1485 West 46th Street around 6:30 p.m. after a report of shots being fired.
Two of the dead are believed to be a married couple who were the property managers at the apartment complex. Three more victims were found dead in an apartment on a different floor.
Another man, who was walking his children into an apartment across the street was also killed. It wasn't immediately clear whether the gunman took aim at him from an upper-level balcony, or if he was hit by a stray bullet.
Sgt. Eddie Rodriguez said that when police arrived, they discovered an active shooter situation.
"He's inside the building, moving from floor to floor. Eventually he barricades himself in an apartment," Rodriguez said.
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The gunman was still armed and holding two hostages when he was shot, according to Hialeah police.
“SWAT members knew there was no more time to negotiate," said Hialeah Police Detective Carl Zogby. "This is one of the worst shootings we've probably ever had in Hialeah. The bad guy is down. He's dead. He cannot hurt anybody anymore."
Around 10 a.m. Saturday morning, the bodies of the victims were removed from the apartment complex and taken to the Medical Examiner's Office.
They were identified as Italo Pisciotti, 79, Camiro Pisciotti, 69, Carlos Javier Gavilanes, 33, Patricio Simono, 64, Merly S. Niebles, 51, and a 17-year-old female victim whose name detectives did not release but who family members identified to Local 10 as Priscilla Perez.
During a news conference Saturday afternoon, police said they have no known motive for what prompted the shooting.
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