The families rang in the new year with their newborns coming into the world at the perfect time, shortly after midnight struck, to begin 2026.

At Memorial Regional Hospital, the countdown ended with a cry of joy as baby Isaiah made his grand entrance at exactly 12:16 a.m., Thursday morning.

Isaiah weighs just over 6 pounds and stretched out at 19 inches, making a special entrance for first-time parents Donnica Haynes and Shamar Williams.

“He didn’t want to come on the 31st. He wanted to be special and come Jan. 1. So yeah, this is our New Year’s baby,” said Haynes.

It was a special moment to begin the year, already turning 2026 into something different for the young family.

“It’s good. It’s pretty much good right now,” said Williams.

The couple said they’re looking forward to baby Isaiah’s presence in their home.

“Just having his presence and, you know, to fill the house with joy,” said Haynes.

Just a few miles away, at HCA Florida Mercy Hospital, another midnight miracle occurred.

Baby Eden Skye Garrido was born at 12:14 a.m. to join the family of five for the new Year.

“We’re exhausted, but we’re excited, we’re ecstatic. Best way to ring in the New Year,” said mother Megan Garrido.

She said the newborn’s name has a special meaning.

“Eden Skye means a new beginning, like the Garden of Eden. We’re blessed to ring in the new year with baby Eden,” said Megan.

At South Miami Hospital, baby Sienna joined the New Year’s Day celebration at 12:41 a.m., weighing in at 8 pounds, 2 ounces.

And at Broward Health Medical Center, baby Iris Derilus arrived later in the morning at 7:26 a.m., weighing in at 8 pounds and 6 ounces.

Four babies born to four different families, at four different hospitals across South Florida, now sharing the start of their lives right after the start of a new year.

Teams got to work in preparing the big orange, a 35-foot, 2,000-pound LED sculpture to make its climb to the top of the InterContinental hotel when the clock strikes midnight in New Year’s Day in downtown Miami.

The annual tradition has been going strong for nearly 40 years, becoming a staple in South Florida’s celebration tradition.

“We’ve had an amazing run. It works every year, once in awhile we had a little snafu, where we had to bring it down, maybe a transformer went out, put a transformer and take it back up, but it’s worked for 39 years,” said Steve Carpenter, the owner of Mr. Neon.

Carpenter is the mastermind behind the one-of-a-kind New Year’s Eve icon.

“It’s unbelievable, when I first built it and designed it to fit this building, I never dreamed it would be going this long, it’s unbelievable,” said Carpenter.

The neon orange returns with a refreshed look and upgraded lighting effects.

Crews got to work in performing test runs for the Big Orange several days before the big countdown begins.

“We like to put it on the building four or five days early just in case we have any problems. So instead of putting it up the day before, that way, it gives us four or five days if we have a bad piece of neon,” said Carpenter.

The Big Orange will soon brighten the Miami skyline as many residents count down the final seconds of 2025.

The annual celebration has steadily grown as people spend the night cheering and celebrating.

“Now we get 100,000 plus people and it’s amazing,” said Carpenter.

Organizers have promised a dazzling show this year, including entertainment, food trucks and family-friendly activities throughout the night.

“They say, ‘When it’s 12:00, it’s New Year’s.’ I go, ‘No, it’s not New Year’s until I say it’s New Year’s,'” said Carpenter.

During the New Year’s celebration, Miami’s new mayor, Eileen Higgins, will reward Carpenter with a key to the city for the decades of work he has put into the Big Orange.

The call came from a man in the store, who reported that an elderly driver had broken through the entrance.

“OK, tell me exactly what happened,” said a 911 dispatcher.

“A car just came through the front door,” said the man.

“A car, a vehicle?” responded the dispatcher.

“Yes. There’s a lady inside the car,” said the man.

“Is she injured?” said the dispatcher.

“Stay inside the car, don’t move,” the man is heard saying to the driver. “Stay right there, the police are on their way, ok?” said the man.

Officials say the incident happened at 5620 West Sample Road last Thursday.

The caller said that the woman seemed to be OK, and gave the phone to the woman, who spoke with dispatchers.

“Here, talk to the dispatch,” said the man

“Who is this?” said the woman.

“It’s the police,” said the man.

“I can’t get out of the car, I’m alright though,” said the woman.

“How old are you ma’am?” said the dispatcher.

“Ninety,” said the woman.

The woman was in disbelief that the car did severe damage to the business, and left the entrance destroyed.

“I can’t believe that my foot slipped off the gas pedal,” said the woman.

First responders soon arrived and took the driver out of the car and to safety.

“I’m here! I’m here!” said the woman.

“OK, you can go ahead and meet with them,” said the dispatcher.

“OK,” said the woman.

Officials say the driver is OK.

Opening statements were made on Wednesday in the custody dispute that pits Anna’s stepmother, Shauntel Hudson-Kepner, against her ex-husband, Thomas Hudson.

Thomas’s attorney previously said the mother took the children on a cruise that left from Miami against his client’s wishes. He said there are indications that, because the group was in international waters, they could engage in activities they typically wouldn’t in the United States, without specifying what those activities are.

During the hearing, attorneys discussed a parenting plan that involves annual visitation for the children.

“The agreement is very clear. It’s in writing. There’s nothing ambiguous about it. Both parties signed it, as a matter of fact, both parties drafted it themselves, read it, and signed it,” said Millicent Athanason, the stepmother’s attorney.

But both parties argued over the plan and what had been agreed.

“Andrew had told her several days before that he no longer wanted to go with her to Brevard County. His high school was here. All his friends were here. This is where he wanted to stay. At that point, they responded, did not like that particular answer, so she took it upon herself again, never communicating with the petitioner in this case, drove to the high school, and forcibly removed A.H. from the high school,” said attorney Peter J. Molinelli.

“He arrived at the respondent’s residence and started screaming and yelling to the other two minor children to get their ass out there, to come and see him. He was very vulgar and rude with them,” said Athanason.

The hearing ended after attorneys for Anna’s stepmother filed new subpoenas earlier this month.

Attorneys say witnesses from both the Florida Department of Children and Families and Temple Christian School, where Anna was a student, must produce records involving several of their children.

“Told the therapist that the children were afraid of being kidnapped by their father. Mind you, there has never been any issue with either child saying they didn’t want to go with the father before Apr. 22, never any issue with visitation, never any allegations. There’s none of that,” said Molinelli.

This latest court hearing, unrelated to Anna’s death, comes as federal authorities continue to investigate Anna’s death aboard the Carnival Horizon on Nov. 7, after she was found under the bed in her stateroom she shared with her 14-year-old brother and 16-year-old stepbrother.

That 16-year-old stepbrother is the subject of an ongoing FBI investigation.

None of the testimony during Wednesday’s court touched on Anna’s death, the stateroom where she was found, or the investigation.

Speaking with 7News on Tuesday, Andy Plaza said he’s happy he took action to come to his neighbor’s aid.

“I’m glad I came outside, you know, to assess her, and I’m glad I followed my instincts,” he said.

According to Hialeah Police, the victim was sexually attacked at knifepoint inside the laundry room of the apartment complex located along West Okeechobee Road, Dec. 9.

The woman’s screams alerted Plaza, who immediately sprang into action.

Plaza’s instincts and quick actions saved his neighbor from a terrifying situation.

“It was around 2:30 in the morning, and I hear a scream; it came down from the laundry room, so I went to check it out,” he said.

The good Samaritan arrived to what was a brutal assault inside the laundry room.

“She was just pushed against it, and the guy was leaning behind her with her pants down,” said Plaza. “He had a knife close to her body.”

Plaza said the man took off running when he realized that he wasn’t alone.

Detectives used surveillance video from the area, and days later, were able to track down her attacker, whom they identified as 21-year-old Luis Rodas-Martinez.

“Through video surveillance, our detectives were able to find videos, still images of him, and work in the streets, were able to identify him,” said Hialeah Police Lt. Eddie Rodriguez.

Rodas-Martinez was arrested and charged with attempted sexual battery and kidnapping with a weapon. He appeared before Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy S. Glazer on Monday.

“He’s using a knife to try and forcefully sexually batter the victim,” said Glazer as she read the police report.

Plaza said his neighbor was shaken but grateful and told him that his actions saved her.

“She wanted to thank my wife, you know, my mother-in-law, that I pretty much saved her life,” he said.

While Rodas-Martinez sits behind bars, police said they fear more victims who have not yet come forward could still be out there.

“As an abundance of caution, we are asking the community, take a look at him. If you feel that you’ve been a victim of this man, please contact detectives as soon as possible,” said Rodriguez.

If you or someone you know believes to be a victim of Rodas-Martinez, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.

According to FHP, 39-year-old Gisell Mansur was arrested after she became violent on the Palmetto Expressway, spitting on a trooper and attempting to block traffic at one point.

Officials said it began on Tuesday while Mansur was having drinks with friends at the 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant Lounge near Miami International Airport.

After having too many drinks, Mansur’s husband went to the restaurant to pick her and a friend up.

According to the report, Mansur began arguing with her friend while they were traveling along the Palmetto Expressway near the West Flagler Street exit, at around 4 p.m.

When her husband pulled the vehicle over to intervene, Mansur reportedly became physically violent, kicking her husband in the face and later climbing onto the hood of their SUV. At one point, troopers said, she was also “sitting in the middle of the main roadway while blocking rush hour traffic.”

When FHP troopers took her into custody to be transported to headquarters, Mansur began kicking the doors and windows of the patrol car, according to the report.

The report goes on to say while a trooper was “restraining Mansur, she spit directly into my face with saliva and blood on the left side of my face.”

Mansur worked as a physician at Mount Sinai Medical Center.

The center has since released a statement confirming her termination:

“We are aware of the incident involving a physician who is no longer affiliated with Mount Sinai. The incident did not occur on our campus and did not involve Mount Sinai patients or staff.”

The 39-year-old now faces a list of charges, including battery, resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer.

Mansur’s bond was set at $3,800.

7News reached out to Mansur and her husband for comment but have not heard back as of Friday morning.

Monday’s discussion took place as officials cited declining student enrollment and a cash crunch as reasons for the closures.

“We have to take drastic measures to make sure our fund balance remains in a good state and we can continue to provide the same level of service to our students and families,” said Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn.

Under the board’s plan, Plantation Middle School would close, and students would be moved to Plantation High School, which would become a grade 6-12 school.

North Fork Elementary School would also be on the chopping block, with those students sent to Walker Elementary or split among four schools.

Plans would also include moving students from Sunshine Elementary in Miramar to Fairway Elementary.

Students from Panther Run Elementary in Pembroke Pines would be moved to Chapel Trail Elementary, students from Blair Middle in Sunrise would be sent to Westpine Middle, and students from Seagull Alternative High School in Fort Lauderdale would be moved to Whiddon Rogers Education Center.

Palm Cove Elementary would also close, with students moving to Pine Lakes Elementary.

Hepburn said he has little choice because of a nearly $95 million budget shortfall, which has already led to a hiring freeze and the district stopping most travel and overtime. He added that the district is losing 9,000 students over the course of a year.

“We’ve been experiencing a decline in enrollment for the past 10 years, but especially within the past three or so years. We are continuing to have a decline in enrollment each year to the tune of an additional 3,600 students,” said Hepburn.

Hepburn added that the public will get ample time to provide feedback as the board will hold a formal vote in January.

“For many families, it will be heartbreaking, but I do believe there is an opportunity for us to come out on the other side stronger than ever,” said Rebecca Thompson, Broward School Board Member for District 2.

The superintendent said he knows many students will be affected by these difficult decisions and will send a recommendation on next steps by Friday.

“As for next steps, I will send out a formal recommendation in a memo to the board by this Friday, followed by a formal vote in January to codify the recommendations in that letter,” said Hepburn.

According to Miami Police, 45-year-old Nubia Torres lined her pockets by selling off small pieces of jewelry she took from the store she worked at in the area of Northeast First Street and North Miami Avenue in Miami’s Jewelry District.

The store’s owner reportedly noticed several items had gone missing in early September.

After reviewing the store’s security footage, he called police.

According to the arrest report, Torres was captured on camera several times between June and August rearranging boxes of jewelry in the store’s back room while “systematically removing pieces of high-value jewelry in small amounts to avoid detection.”

The arrest report states the suspect would then return to her desk, where she hid the merchandise inside her purse.

Among the items Torres is accused of stealing are links from a Cuban link chain valued at more than $100,000, along with several gold bracelets.

After stealing the items, detectives said, the employee would sell them off at pawn shops.

Bodycam video shows officers take Torres into custody on Sept. 9.

She faces a slew of charges, including grand theft and dealing with stolen property.

While her bond has been set by a judge, Torres remains behind bars on an immigration hold.

Speaking with 7News on Wednesday, Eury Cerda said he was nearly killed on the night of Oct. 31.

“It’s a miracle to be alive,” he said.

The survivor said the night began when he took his 6-year-old daughter trick-or-treating.

“We were matching costumes as Harry Potter this year,” he said.

But what looked to be a fun night of collecting candy quickly turned into a terrifying fight for survival.

As Cerda and his daughter traveled near the area Northwest 87th Avenue and 64th Street in Medley, he found himself in a road rage confrontation.

“I guess this person interpreted us as cutting him off, and he becomes enraged,” he said.

Surveillance video captured Cerda exiting his car to confront the other driver in an attempt to calm him down.

“I try to tell him I have my daughter in the vehicle, and I tell him, ‘You have also kids in your car,'” said Cerda.

Despite his attempt to defuse the situation, as Cerda began to walk away, the other driver exited his vehicle with a gun in hand.

“I had my hands in the air, and I tell him, ‘Are you going to shoot me? I have my daughter in the car,'” said Cerda.

With children watching from inside both vehicles, the other driver shot Cerda in the face.

Surveillance footage showed a shocked Cerda running across the street, narrowly avoiding being hit by another car that was passing in the opposite direction.

“What are you saying to your daughter?” 7News’ Sheldon Fox asked Cerda.

“I’m telling her, ‘Relax.’ She’s crying, she’s saying, ‘Daddy, what’s going on, what’s happening?'” Cerda said.

As he bled profusely from his mouth, Cerda got back to his car and drove himself to a Doral urgent care.

“Choking, coughing up on blood, then it’s just like, I’ve never been shot before, to thinking I’m gonna die,” Cerda said.

The bullet came within centimeters of striking his spine.

Cerda was in a coma for six days after it happened.

Cellphone video provided by Cerda’s family showed him in the hospital after he awoke, unable to speak as nurses gave him a vocal valve.

“Try to say your name,” a nurse tells Cerda.

“Eury,” he responded.

His family members are heard gasping after hearing him speak for the first time since the Halloween night shooting.

“Doctors told me it was a miracle,” said Cerda.

Despite his miraculous survival, he still has a long way to fully recover.

Cerda currently lives with tubes in his body, having lost nearly 20 pounds since the shooting, and undergoing continued therapy. His daughter has also been going to therapy after experiencing the traumatic event.

Many of the simple things he did for his daughter he still can’t do yet.

“Take her to school, make her breakfast, comb her hair, do the everyday important things as a father, to make sure she feels all the love,” said Cerda.

Authorities identified the man responsible for the shooting as 54-year-old Emilio Rodriguez, a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue civilian employee.

Rodriguez was charged with attempted murder with a firearm.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Cerda with medical expenses. If you would like to make a donation, click here.

The footage captures the moment 38-year-old Phillip Andrew Ortiz was taken into custody while on board the Norwegian Encore, Saturday afternoon.

“The detective already advised you at this moment you are under arrest,” an officer is heard telling Ortiz.

What started as a family vacation ended with Ortiz in handcuffs before the ship left PortMiami for a Caribbean cruise, Saturday.

“The captain is the one that is kicking you off the boat, not us,” an officer told Ortiz.

Norwegian crew members can be seen on camera during Ortiz’s arrest.

He was charged with aggravated battery on a person 65 or older.

Ortiz insists he is the victim in the fight, accusing the 67-year-old man of being drunk and refusing to allow him and his family to pass through a hallway aboard the ship, at around 2 p.m.

He showed law enforcement injuries from the encounter, later providing photos of the scratches and bruises he and his significant other suffered.

“You know, you have a scratch mark here on your wrist, right?” an officer is heard asking Ortiz.

“Yes, and that’s what I would like documented,” Ortiz responded.

As officers placed him in handcuffs, Ortiz told them he hopes the other man will also be arrested.

“I hope this is on camera. I would hope that you are arresting the other person involved in the incident for sequestering my children and initiating this situation,” he said. “Justice will be served.”

7News was there when Ortiz bonded out of jail, Tuesday morning.

When asked if he ever felt he went too far, he responded with a firm “no.”

Ortiz later demonstrated to 7News what he did to confront the man.

“Grabbed his arm, I engaged him like this. I disengaged him by pushing him back. And then like this,” Ortiz said as he grabbed reporter Sheldon Fox by his blazer and pushed him against a window.

The elderly man was knocked unconscious and later sent to the hospital.

Ortiz said his actions were purely to protect his family.

“My client didn’t punch, kick, bite or do anything other than take this person to the ground,” said Stephan Lopez, Ortiz’s attorney.

Ortiz and his attorney have requested the ship’s surveillance footage.

7News has reached out to Norwegian Cruise Line for comment but have not heard back.

According to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, crews responded to reports of a junkyard fire near the 13000 block of Cairo Lane shortly after 8:00 p.m., Monday.

Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy smoke and flames pouring from the back of the junkyard, with multiple vehicles fully engulfed in flames.

Crews deployed foam and utilized aerial ladders to attack the fire from multiple angles, extinguishing the blaze after two hours.

No injuries have been reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Catholic Charities, which serves nearly 2,000 families through Matthew 25, a local food pantry, has issued a request for donations after a sharp decline in protein items.

The agency plans to distribute food in December, making the need for donations incredibly important.

“Families would come here specifically for those items. So we are finding that we don’t have enough to feed those families, and some of them won’t come home with protein when they come to us, so we are in desperate need for that,” said Lani Carvalho, who runs Matthew 25.

Individuals who receive food from the pantry have shared what it means for them to receive food from the organization.

“I come here to get food because I don’t make that much money, and I had to retire when I was 62 because of the cancer,” said Mike Blevins, a food recipient. “I [only] get $23 from food stamps, and that’s nothing to buy anything.”

Even with all the food that’s given out, others still find ways to help out their community.

“If I get a pie, or if I get bread when I stop by, or if I get little sandwiches, I give that to them to eat,” said Blevins. “I can’t afford to give them any money, but I can’t eat all this, but I’m going to give it out.”

Staff at Catholic Charities have been informed that no protein supplies are available for distribution, and also shared that the truck used to pick up donations is currently out of service.

“We’re having difficulties getting to the grocery stores,” said Carvalho

The organization is seeking to make connections with corporate donors or food suppliers who may be able to assist with urgent or current protein donations. In addition to protein, items such as milk, beans, pasta, rice, snacks, cereal, canned goods and water are also needed for families.

The next food distribution will occur on Dec. 6, with contributions expected ahead of that date.

“I am very happy, and I am hoping this is not just a one-time event. I’m hoping that we can be a continuous donor to Matthew’s food pantry,” said Jenilee Acevedo-Medina, Founder and President of First Steps Interventions.

Organizations or individuals interested in donating food or linking Catholic Charities with potential corporate partners are encouraged to contact Anaderky Macias at 954-540-8967 or amacias@ccadm.org. For more information, click here.

The service for MDSO Deputy Devin Jaramillo started at around 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday, more than three hours after the hearse carrying his body left Caballero Funeral Home South surrounded by deputies on motorcycles.

7News cameras captured the moment law enforcement officers carried Jaramillo’s casket, draped in a U.S. flag, inside the stadium.

The somber ritual was familiar: the flag draped coffin accompanied by an honor guard and a riderless horse symbolizing a fallen leader.

Among the brothers and sisters in blue who spoke about the 27-year-old deputy’s character was an officer from Coral Gables Police, where Jaramillo served for three years before joining MDSO.

“You were the kind of officer every partner hopes for: loyal, driven,” Coral Gables Police Officer said Melenni Alzate. “You faced every call with courage and every person with heart. You reminded me and everyone around you what this job truly means: service, sacrifice and love for the community we swore to protect.”

Coral Gables Police Chief Edward Hudak said it was tough to find comfort words during this difficult time.

“I am honored with offering words of comfort. Words that make sense. Quite frankly, I’ve not been able to find those words for days,” he said.

MDSO Sgt. Carlos Arguelles, Jaramillo’s uncle, described his nephew as a caring human being.

“He was a grand young man. Devin Matthew Jaramillo: a devoted son, brother, nephew, uncle, student, athlete, deputy, connoisseur and the sweetest, most genuine soul I’ve ever known,” he said.

The deputy’s mother, Yolanda Jaramillo, called him her pride and joy.

“There are no words for what it feels like to lose a child. My baby boy, mi macho lindo. Devin chose a life of service, a life of courage and a life centered around protecting others,” she said. “My son wore his badge with pride. I am proud of the man he became, proud of the officer he was, and I’m proud to be the one he called ‘Mommy.'”

Jaramillo’s father David also paid tribute to his son, who followed in his footsteps to become a law enforcement officer.

“Devin could have been – could have chosen any other path, but instead, he followed in my footsteps and became a protector, a guardian, committed to the greater good,” he said. “His acts of kindness and courage were just small fragments of his character. He was a gladiator who stood against injustice, those who couldn’t protect themselves.”

For his family, it was a ceremony that came far too soon.

“For me, he was my older brother who made the world feel a little less scary,” said sibling Isabella Jaramillo. “Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God. Rest easy my beautiful brother.”

Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz told the audience that what happened to Devin is never OK.

“There is nothing about this that is fair and this is not OK and it will never be OK. But you are not alone,” said Cordero-Stutz.

The emotional occasion comes hours after the motorcade left the funeral home and made its way to St. Matthew The Archangel Catholic Church, located near Southwest 27th Avenue and Flagler Street, where family members and friends of the 27-year-old gathered for the private Mass.

7Skyforce hovered above the hearse as Jaramillo’s casket was removed of the vehicle and taken inside the house of worship, as several dozen deputies stood in a respectful salute. While the service was held, MDSO deputies stood guard outside.

Once the Mass wrapped up, at around 9:15 a.m., the motorcade left for loanDepot Park for the larger public memorial service.

Earlier in the day, cameras captured an enhanced police presence outside the stadium, including K-9s and officers blocking off entrances.

Fire officials were also on hand to prepare the venue for the service. Cameras showed a giant U.S. flag hoisted atop two ladder trucks — one from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and the other from Coral Gables Fire Rescue — near the entrance to the stadium.

The public began parking at the stadium at around 7:30 a.m., and the doors opened about an hour later.

The service comes 11 days after Jaramillo was shot and killed when he responded to a traffic crash near a warehouse by Southwest 128th Street and 122nd Avenue in Southwest Miami-Dade.

Upon arrival, investigators said, Jaramillo and the gunman, identified as 21-year-old Steven Rustrian, got into a fight, and at one point the shooter disarmed the deputy and used his gun to shoot him.

Authorities said Rustrian went back to his own car and took his own life.

Despite the best efforts from first responders, Jaramillo would not survive.

Once it left the church, the funeral procession traveled north along Northwest 27th Avenue before arriving at Seventh Street. It then headed east to 17th Avenue and arrived at the stadium.

After the ceremony ended, another procession headed for Jaramillo’s burial site, a cemetery located about 20 miles away, where he was laid to rest.

Davie Fire Rescue units responded to the home located on the 8500 block of Southwest 21st Street on Sunday morning to find the home engulfed in flames, with smoke billowing into the sky.

7News cameras captured fire crews fighting the flames and damaged windows.

Lisa Binger and her husband, Marco, said they spotted the flames and immediately tried to see if anyone was trapped inside.

“He was knocking on the doors and stuff like that, and he said, ‘Let’s break the windows.’ They took a planter and threw it through the window,” said Lisa.

She described the fire she witnessed to 7News.

“The smoke was black and high. The fire was red, orange, and it was crazy,” she said.

Despite several attempts, the couple were unable to make their way to the man living inside because of his belongings blocking their path.

“To find out that there was somebody inside, and they had passed away, and we were just right here, and I don’t know if a little faster, or if he had died before. I don’t know, but it was nerve-racking all day long,” said Lisa.

Fire crews quickly battled the blaze, ultimately extinguishing it.

Neighbors said the man was found deceased in his tub.

“He was in the tub with water, I guess trying to survive, I guess,” said Lisa.

They said they are shocked to learn of his death.

“We’re all in a bit of shock right now, as you can see by everybody that’s here. It’s just very surreal,” said neighbor Kim Baumgardt.

The United Teachers of Dade and the UTD Retiree Chapter on Monday identified the victim as Martin Hoffer, a retired teacher and member of the union.

“United Teachers of Dade and the UTD Retiree Chapter are deeply saddened by the passing of Martin Hoffer, a dedicated educator and cherished member of our union family. Martin retired as a teacher from Miami Lakes K-8, where he inspired generations of students and colleagues with his commitment to education and his unwavering support for public schools. Martin was not only a respected teacher but also a valued member of the UTD Retiree Chapter, where he continued to advocate for educators and contribute to the strength of our union community. His legacy is one of service, compassion, and a lifelong dedication to the well-being of students and teachers alike. Our thoughts and condolences go out to Martin’s family, friends, and all who knew and loved him. We honor his memory and the impact he made on our schools and our union. Martin Hoffer will be remembered as a true champion of public education and a beloved member of the UTD family.”

Statement from United Teachers of Dade and the UTD Retiree Chapter

Officials with Miami-Dade Schools told 7News Hoffer retired as a special ed teacher in June.

Back at the mobile park, Baumgardt said Hoffer’s wife passed away just a few years ago.

“And after that, we did not see much of Martin anymore,” she said.

Hoffer’s best friend, Mike Schlossberg, told 7News he had gone to check on him after not being able to get in touch with him throughout the day.

“Since his wife died, I call him every day to make sure he’s OK, and I tried calling yesterday,” said Schlossberg.

Hoffer’s neighbors broke the news to Schlossberg that his lifelong friend did not survive.

“I knew Marty since before 9 years old. We grew up in the same apartment house, went to high school together, it’s terrible,” said Schlossberg.

7News cameras captured the victim’s clothes and mementos charred and covered in soot from the fire.

But in the midst of ash and rubble, neighbors are honoring the man, whom they described as a devout husband.

“We’re not all the same. He was a little bit different but he was a wonderful guy,” said Schlossberg. “I can’t believe I’m saying this.”

“They seem to be very lovely people. They seem to have a very loving marriage. They were very wrapped up in each other,” said Baumgardt.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

According to the arrest report, 45-year-old Kutay Satiroglu was taken into custody Tuesday night at a residence on Pine Tree Drive, where officers found the teenage victim.

Investigators said the girl’s mother called police after receiving a “concerning” phone call from her older daughter, who said the teen was being physically and sexually abused.

When officers arrived, Satiroglu told them the teen had been drinking and that he had called her mother to pick her up, police said.

Once alone with investigators, the 17-year-old told detectives she had been in a romantic relationship with Satiroglu and had been working for his yacht charter business for two months, according to the report.

She alleged that Satiroglu forced her to have sex with his friends in exchange for money, which he used to fund their household, and that he provided her with drugs during the encounters.

The teen also said Satiroglu often became violent and would beat her if she refused his demands or failed to bring other girls to the yacht, according to the report.

Detectives from MBPD’s Human Trafficking and Special Victims units conducted interviews before arresting Satiroglu, who invoked his right to remain silent.

The suspect faces a list of charges, including human trafficking of a minor for commercial sexual activity, lewd or lascivious battery, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

“That’s considered a life felony. We’re going to hold you with no bond,” said Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Mindy S. Glazer.

Satiroglu was arrested and transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in West Miami-Dade.

West Palm Beach Police Officer Gesner Michel went above and beyond for a homeless woman who was down on her luck.

While out on the job, which he says he finds worthwhile, he met a woman who he immediately befriended.

“You wake up every morning and you know you’re meeting new people and you get a chance to give people hope,” he said. “I made contact with that person–let me rephrase–not person, my new friend.”

She immediately told him she was looking for a job, but couldn’t seem to get anything done.

That’s when Officer Michel sprung into action to give his new friend that extra boost.

“Hope is giving someone that extra boost, that extra chance, you know, just to say, ‘Hey, it’s not that I hope things get better, I know things will get better,'” he said.

The officer responded with compassion by helping her get a warm meal.

“We’re going to get you some food, OK? It’s on me today. I feel good today. You’re making me happy, so I’m going to make you even more happy,” he told the woman.

During their hang out, Michel was able to secure the woman a new ID and even found her a place to sleep.

“At least we know we got a bed, right? Did I not say we weren’t going to get something?” Michel joked with the woman.

He said the woman was grateful for the kind actions.

“She was just so grateful. She was surprised, you know, that I took the time to help her and I told her it was not a problem, it’s normal for me,” he said.

Now, his next step is finding his new friend a new job.

“She says she’s a really good waitress, so if anyone in West Palm Beach would like to hire somebody, she’ll be ready,” he said.

The officer says he’ll be ready for the next person that needs that extra boost.

“‘Cause I live by paying it forward,” said Michel.

Michel has been with the WPB PD for seven years.

7News cameras captured the casket of Miami Beach Police Sgt. David Cajuso, seen draped with the U.S. flag, as officers carried it inside the Miami Gardens venue’s stage prior to the start of the service, late Wednesday morning.

During the service, his wife, Eileen Cajuso, said after he would arrive home from work, his focus and mission was on his family. She said despite only being together seven years, they built together a strong foundation that now allows her to weather this profound loss.

She pondered openly about faith and said her husband was a deep follower of God.

“Why didn’t the God who he loved so deeply save him? I wondered the same thing, I had so many questions. So I asked God, ‘Why didn’t you save my husband?’ and in time God replied, ‘I did, I did save him. I saved his soul,'” she said.

Cajuso’s friends and family remembered him as a joyous person who was kind to everyone.

“Dave loved the saying, and it was his saying and mantra, ‘It’s a beautiful day.’ He would say it all the time,” said Miami Beach Police Sgt. Phillip Elmore. “Dave knew everyone in the building. They started calling him ‘the golden retriever’ because you would send Dave into a room full of [Fraternal Order of Police] members, and they all came out laughing — slapping them on the back, telling stories. They couldn’t be happier to see Dave.”

“He could turn your hard day into a bearable one, with just one phone call out of the blue,” said his aunt, Monica Gordo. “‘Hey, Tia, how’s your day? Guess who I ran into today? Check your texts. I sent you a picture. Gotta go.'”

Inside the stadium, pictures of Cajuso with loved ones were shown to attendees. They painted a picture of the motorman as a loving husband and father of three young children.

“David’s life may have been short, but his impact reaches far and deep,” said his wife.

One of his daughters hugged her mother as she listened to stories of the dad she and her siblings have lost so young. At one point, they were seen looking at the photo displays.

“You three. You were his purpose, his pride, his everything,” said Miami Beach Police Officer Peter Carballo.

One of the videos shown during the ceremony was of his daughter saying a Bible verse that showed the family’s strong faith.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord, your God will be with you wherever you go,” she said.

7News cameras captured Cajuso’s beloved bike, a Hobie that he also enjoyed outside of work, next to the stage as the service got underway.

His parents were devastated as they told the audience they were looking forward to spending more time together.

“We were looking forward to making so many more memories together, and losing that future feels unbearable,” said David Cajuso Sr.

Hours before the somber ceremony, it was an emotional start as the procession departed Vista Memorial Gardens in Miami Lakes at around 9:10 a.m. and headed east along the Gratigny Expressway.

Before Cajuso’s body reached Hard Rock Stadium, the massive motorcade would pass by Miami Beach Police headquarters, where the 33-year-old served for 10 years, a third of his life as a police officer.

7Skyforce hovered above the procession as it headed down Interstate 95 toward South Beach. All southbound traffic on the highway was brought to a halt to allow the motorcade to go through.

Drivers were urged to plan ahead, allow extra travel time and use alternate routes where possible.

Just after 9:40 a.m., the procession made its way east along the Julia Tuttle Causeway, then south along Pine Tree Drive as it headed to the police department’s headquarters along Washington Avenue.

At around 10 a.m., cameras showed the moment the hearse passed by headquarters. Officers lining the sidewalk on the western side saluted as the procession quietly made its way down the street.

Just before 10:50 a.m., the procession pulled into Hard Rock Stadium and was met by a large crowd that included law enforcement officers from across Florida who came together to mourn Cajuso’s passing.

On Wednesday afternoon, a second procession took place from Hard Rock Stadium to Caballero Rivero Woodlawn South in Southwest Miami Dade, where he was laid to rest.

This all comes two weeks after Cajuso was killed in a crash along I-75 near the Palmetto Expressway in Hialeah. He lost control of his motorcycle and fell down a steep embankment.

Cajuso was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Investigators said no other vehicles were involved in the crash.

“He leaves behind three children and a grieving wife. We ask that you keep his young family in your hearts and in your prayers,” said Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne Jones during an Oct. 28 news conference.

Cajuso’s death sparked a tremendous display of support from his brothers and sisters in blue, as well as the community he so graciously served.

Officials with Miami Beach Police said Cajuso will receive full line-of-duty death honors in a private ceremony.

Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero Stutz said Friday evening that 27-year-old Deputy Devin Jaramillo was fatally shot in the area of a warehouse near Southwest 128th Street and 122nd Avenue earlier that afternoon.

“Today is not OK; what happened is not OK,’ said Cordero Stutz. “Today will never be OK.”

Upon shots being fired, Cordero Stutz said good Samaritans called 911.

Deputies arrived to the area and immediately provided aid and worked with him as he was taken to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital.

Despite the medical team’s best efforts, Jaramillo succumbed to his injuries.

Cordero Stutz said Jaramillo was “not only a deputy. He’s a son, brother and friend.”

Jaramillo, who served in Miami-Dade’s Kendall district, graduated into the agency in 2024 after working for the Coral Gables Police Department. He was described as having an unwavering commitment to protect others.

Prior to the press conference, several law enforcement agencies lined the street of Southwest 117th Avenue and Bird Road as they waited for news of their colleague.

After learning the devastating news, 7News cameras captured several fire rescue trucks lifting ladders and an American flag to show signs of a procession for a fallen officer.

Multiple deputies were also seen forming a prayer circle outside of the entrance to the hospital’s emergency room.

The procession for the fallen deputy happened late Friday night.

Several officers across multiple municipalities escorted the rescue truck as it transported Jaramillo to the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s Office.

“The trail of police officers there and you see the vehicles on the west side of the Turnpike will end up at the medical examiner’s office there,” said 7Skyforce’s Ralph Rayburn.

Upon arrival at the medical examiner’s office, they were met with a hero’s salute, with an American flag hung high above Northwest 10th Avenue in Miami.

Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and other county officials joined law enforcement as Jaramillo was transferred with dignity inside.

“I wanna thank all of our fellow law enforcement agencies that stepped up today to help us, to support us, to send words of encouragement,” said Cordero Stutz.

As for the warehouse incident that led to the tragic shooting, the investigation appeared to center around a green Ford Mustang that was covered with a tarp and parked outside of the warehouse.

One subject is reportedly deceased and another was detained after a brief search for them. It’s unclear how they were involved in the shooting.

7Skyforce captured a massive police presence, some with their weapons drawn, outside the warehouse area as they investigate.

As the investigation continues, officers from across South Florida will shoulder the pain of losing one of their own.

“The next few days are going to be very difficult to us, and we will continue to make this county safe,” said Cordero Stutz.

Speaking with 7News on Monday night, Judson Grosvenor said he spotted smoke not far from where he was on the water, Monday afternoon, and rushed to the rescue.

“I hauled [expletive] over there and we were the first on scene,” he said.

Hollywood Fire Rescue, Broward Sheriff’s Office Fire Rescue and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to the blaze.

Aerial footage from 7Skyforce showed thick, black smoke rising from the vessel, which was fully engulfed in flames.

Grosvenor said he called the U.S. Coast Guard as he made his way to the boaters in trouble.

“It was totally in flames when we got there,” he said.

Upon his arrival, he said he noticed someone stranded in the water and got to work with a water rescue. Cellphone video shared with 7News shows one of the men on a floating water pad as Grovesnor’s boat nears him.

“We picked him up. He said there was another guy in a life jacket floating off to the north of the boat,” said Grosvenor.

By then, first responders had arrived. The good Samaritan said he helped point out the second person seeking help by jumping off his boat and swimming into the ocean.

He found the second boater and led Coast Guard officials to him.

“He seemed very calm for someone whose boat just erupted in fire,” said the good Samaritan.

BSO Fire officials say the 35 foot vessel was underway when the flames erupted on board. Firefighters used water hoses from their vessels to fight the flames.

Fire crews were able to successfully put out the fire.

The two boaters then boarded a USCG vessel and were taken to the Coast Guard station in Dania Beach. They are expected to be OK.

Despite a tow boat arriving as well, it appeared there was little of the burned vessel to save after the flames were extinguished.

Beachgoers watched the tense rescue from shore.

“We saw black smoke that seemed like it went for at least half a mile,” said Renee Salyer. “That’s nothing I’ve ever seen. It’s really concerning.”

And Grosvenor said he was happy to have lend a helping hand.

“Yeah, mariners look out for each other. I am sure that another boat would have come if we didn’t,” he said.

No injuries were reported.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire.

Speaking in Sunrise on Thursday, the congresswoman said the string of decisions to bomb alleged drug-carrying boats out of the ocean is a mistake.

“Extrajudicial murder of Venezuelans is what [Venezuelan leader Nicolas] Maduro does, it’s not what America should do,” said Wasserman Schultz.

Members of the Venezuelan-American caucus said the bombings remind them of what happened back home decades ago.

“I can not believe I am experiencing something that I already experienced in Venezuela all over again in the United States,” said Adelys Ferro, co-founder of the Venezuelan American Caucus.

The attacks on the boats in the Caribbean began in September and have taken place as recently as Wednesday. The Pentagon announced it targeted another alleged drug boat in the Pacific Ocean.

Since the attacks started, the U.S. military has killed 61 people — all alleged to be drug traffickers by the administration.

Recently, the Pentagon surged even more firepower to the region, sending the U.S.S. Gerald Ford and its strike group.

All this escalation, members in the Venezuelan American caucus say, is the wrong way to go about things.

“What he is doing, in many ways, sadly, is very similar to what we know, what we have experienced back in Venezuela, and that similarity doesn’t have to do with any political way of thinking,” said Ferro.

In a sign of further escalation, President Donald Trump has said he’s exploring land strikes in Venezuela.

“Those drug ships aren’t coming in anymore. We can’t find a ship. There are no ships coming in with drugs,” Trump said in Asia.

Trump has declared the people on the boats to be “terrorists,” and his administration has said that the U.S. is in an “armed conflict,” but he has publicly provided no evidence of their alleged crimes or even identified them.

“This is an operation against narcoterrorists – as the Department of War characterizes them, the Al-Qaida of the Western Hemisphere. These are well-funded, dangerous, violent drug cartels that operate as terrorists who are flooding our country with drugs,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Trump claims the alleged drug trafficking is being orchestrated by Venezuela’s Maduro and says he has authorized covert CIA missions inside that country.

Critics from the South Florida Venezuelan community said on Thursday they wish Congress had more of a say in all this.

“They don’t want to talk to Congress; they don’t want to do the right thing. They are not even taking into consideration the rule of law,” said Ferro.

Republicans, however, say they don’t see an issue.

“He plans to brief members of Congress when he gets back from Asia about future potential military operations against Venezuela and Colombia. So there will be a congressional briefing about a potential expansion from the sea to the land. I support that idea. But I think he has all the authority he needs,” said South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham.

House Democrats criticized the Trump administration on Thursday for pulling the Pentagon lawyers set to brief them on the U.S. boat strikes against alleged drug traffickers at the last minute. They said they left completely unsatisfied with the information that was shared.

The monster storm is forecasted to bring catastrophic conditions, and experts said up to 1.5 million people across Jamaica would be directly impacted by Melissa.

One of those people is Aventura residents Jimmytre and Tyiesha Museau, who tell 7News they arrived in Jamaica for a work-related trip and had to run for cover with hundreds of others like them once Melissa was too near for them to leave.

“Everybody is just scared, and we’re all just tryna make it out,” said Jimmytre.

They showed 7News the shelter where they are riding out the storm, along with 500 people.

“This is the convention center. Everyone is lined up trying to get shelter,” said Jimmytre.

They say the resort where they were initially staying didn’t provide any relief for tourists stranded on the island, forcing many to find safety elsewhere.

“We had two options: either to pay or to leave the property,” said Jimmytre.

He said that while inside the convention center, emotions were heightened. One video, shared by the Museaus from inside the shelter, shows a woman raising her voice at another person. It’s unclear what the argument was about.

“The security and one of the coast guards came in to actually give us some updates to try to help people calm down,” said Jimmytre.

But once things were calm, the couple said the yelling turned into prayer.

“People went into worshipping and coming together, trying to be a unity,” said Jimmytre.

However, hours after first speaking with 7News, Jimmytre said all 500 people had to evacuate the shelter when the roof began to lift due to the strong winds.

“Particles from the roof was caving off and water started leaking in and the winds were super so strong and the building was rattling,” said Jimmytre. “We got women very up in age, trying to make sure they don’t get trampled over.”

The Aventura couple says they have no idea when they’ll get back home.

On another side of the island, Kristin Morgan is also sheltering in place as she found herself with no way back to Atlanta after arriving in Jamaica for a wedding.

“We would book a flight, and the flight would be canceled. We would book another flight, and it would be canceled,” she said.

Morgan says she has a flight back home on Wednesday, but with planes grounded and airports closed, she knows she most likely won’t be able to leave.

“As long as we get there safe, I’m happy with it. But it’s looking like it’s going to be Friday or Saturday,” she said.

As she awaits the reopening of airports, Morgan says she feels safe where she is staying.

“Outside of the winds pounding against the windows, I feel relatively safe,” she said.

Morgan said this isn’t her first hurricane that she’s had to ride out.

“Unfortunately, I was caught in the Hurricane Katrina portion in Miami back in 2005, and it reminds me, it’s bringing me back.”

Another tourist, Debra Shields, said she was worried she would run out of food and water as she sheltered in her resort in Jamaica.

“I think they’re going to start opening up one of the banquet halls and let people get food pretty soon. We are so grateful for that. We’re so hungry. We have been eating chips and crackers,” said Shields.

Tierra Thomas, a Miami resident also stuck in Jamaica, tells 7News she’s not worried but was already feeling the effects of Melissa.

“Stuff is everywhere. This is the hallway, and we have tiles in front of our doors because the water is starting to come in,” said Thomas.

She showed 7News the views from her resort. The strong winds had knocked down signs and several trees.

“Now it’s getting real, that’s all I can say,” said Thomas.

Thomas said she’s grateful she’s still able to have electricity and Wi-Fi, while she says some of her friends can’t say the same.

“I guess I lucked out in the department because we have some friends who left the hotel to go to Montego Bay so that they don’t get stuck over here with all the debris, and they didn’t have any electricity since [Monday] morning,” she said.

Thomas says the hotel is giving guests water and food, and she has been stocking up since the weekend.

“I was there for Andrew, so I’m used to hurricanes. I’m not afraid of them, but I ain’t ever been surrounded by water,” said Thomas

While all stranded tourists are waiting out the storm, they all say they can’t wait to get home safely.

Jamaican officials say 25,000 tourists are sheltering on the island as of Tuesday.

Speaking to 7News on Monday, Miami resident Nicole Doyon said her trip with friends turned into a travel nightmare as the local airports closed, and now they are stuck on the island and ready to brace for whatever comes their way.

“This is what it’s looking like right now,” said Doyon as she showed her social media followers what the outside view looked like.

She said they all travelled to Montego Bay on a yoga retreat and have been unable to fly out.

“I had a flight for Monday booked that got canceled, so we have a flight for Wednesday booked, but we don’t know, we’re all just playing by ear,” she said.

Doyon said it’s been an eye-opening experience seeing how people react around her to the incoming storm.

“It’s been a roller coaster of emotions, especially when like everybody’s kind of panicking, trying to get on a flight, like every man for himself,” she said.

As Melissa, who already has claimed some lives in the Caribbean as well as destroyed homes and uprooted trees near Jamaica, Doyon said the villa she is staying at appears to be ready.

“These are all hurricane secure. They said like everything is super safe, like this house is essentially built for this and we’re really high up,” she said.

But as forecasts call for catastrophic winds and life-threatening rain to the island, Doyon said she’s worried about what’s to come.

“We are scared, and we know it’s gonna be traumatizing, and we have the shelter that they’re gonna show us, so right now we’re just keeping calm,” she said.

She joins millions of other Jamaican residents who are also preparing for what could be the worst storm to ever hit the island.

“I guess we’ll see. I haven’t even checked the weather yet, so I don’t know,” she said.

Doyon said she and her friends will stay at the shelter until it’s safe to fly back home to Miami.

Body camera video captured the moments Riviera Beach officer Andrew Hinds saved the family from danger on Sunday morning.

Hinds was on duty when he noticed smoke.

“While we were doing traffic, we looked up and saw smoke coming from a house,” he said.

He and other officers rushed to the home and found a truck covered in flames up against the house.

“Residents were flagging us down, telling us there were people inside; some small kids and a family,” said Hinds.

He called a dispatcher about the truck engulfed in flames.

“It’s really bad, its getting engulfed right next to the house. The house is about to catch on fire as well,” Hinds tells dispatchers.

Then he joined the other officers rushed to the home and began knocking to alert them on what was happening.

“Your house, look! It’s going to be set on fire! Anybody else in the house? Get them out. Everybody out! Everybody out! Hurry up, get out,” Hinds could be heard telling the family inside the home. “Go go go go go!”

Hinds said the family of four was asleep and unaware of the fire.

Luckily, they all made it out safely and could be seen being comforted by neighbors as firefighters extinguished the flames.

The officer said he was at the right place, right time and that while the truck was destroyed, it was a day to reflect on the job he and other officers do.

“Honestly, I’m just relieved that everybody got out and it didn’t spread anymore,” said Hinds. “I would hate to even think about what would happen if we didn’t see the fire. So it was nice that we just happened to be at the right time at the right place.”

Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was arrested Thursday in connection to an illegal sports gambling scheme under investigation by the FBI.

“They relied on corrupt individuals, including Jones and Rozier. They also used information obtained through longstanding friendship that they had with NBA players and coaches,” said Joseph Nocella, the top federal prosecutor for the Eastern District of New York.

Rozier is accused of passing private insider information about a single game to a network of sports bettors, resulting in big wins.

According to the federal indictment, the alleged crime occurred during the 2023 season when Rozier was playing for the Charlotte Hornets. During one of the games that took place in March of that year against the New Orleans Pelicans, he allegedly told his childhood friend and codefendant Deniro Laster a secret plan.

Court documents reveal “Rozier was going to prematurely remove himself from the game in the first quarter due to a supposed injury and not return to play further…Laster sold the information…to multiple coconspirators…to enable them to place fraudulent wagers based on the non-public information…In exchange for approximately $100,000 from their expected fraudulent gambling winnings…”

Prosecutors add the athlete’s “early exit from the March 23 Game and his related underperformance relative to his season averages…resulted in the success of numerous fraudulent wagers placed on Rozier’s unders by the defendants and their co-conspirators. And “After…Laster collected his cut of the fraudulent wagering scheme proceeds…Laster drove…to the defendant Terry Rozier’s home in Charlotte…During the early morning hours of April 1, 2023, Laster and Rozier counted the money that Laster had obtained…”

It’s unclear if Rozier received any money for his alleged involvement in this crime.

Number two Terry Rozier jerseys were taken down from the official Miami Heat Store site online and no Rozier jerseys were seen on the racks of the Kaseya Center downtown store.

The accusations and arrests left fans in downtown Miami stunned. Some of them expressed how they felt to 7News.

“I don’t get it, because it’s like, if I was In their shoes, you know, I make millions, I don’t know why you have to be in a gambling situation like that, but it’s just crazy,” said a fan. “Like, hopefully there’s no other players, but I was just watching, it says up to 30 people arrested, so it’s just crazy.”

“I’m not surprised. There’s so much money in sports these days,” said another fan.

“I think, maybe in a year or two, I don’t think we’re going to be able to bet at all,” said a third fan.

Those near the Kaseya Center said the latest revelations puts a stain on the league and professional sports.

“It’s like we don’t know what’s real, what’s fake, if they are really playing, if they aren’t,” said a fan.

“You want to feel like the outcome is undetermined,” said another fan.

The Heat are set to play in Memphis Friday night. They will be back home at the Kaseya Center on Sunday.

According to a statement from the NBA, Rozier has been placed on immediate leave from the team as well as Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, who was involved in a separate gambling scheme also under investigation by the FBI.

As of late Thursday afternoon, the Heat have not made any comment on the situation.

Rozier has bonded out of jail on certain conditions, including using his multi-million dollar home in Southwest Ranches as collateral.

According to an arrest report, 50-year-old Carlos Francisco Gottberg Marquez was taken into custody Monday on a felony charge.

“You got arrested for theft of trade secrets,” said Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Mindy S. Glazer.

Police said the thefts occurred at Mordisco Miami, a restaurant known for its Venezuelan-style steaks, appetizers and handmade arepas, located at 10355 NW 41st St.

Cesar Gonzalez, the restaurant’s owner and chef, said he felt betrayed.

“It’s the heart of the restaurant,” said Gonzalez.

Gonzalez said one of the stolen books shared how exactly to prepare the restaurant’s signature meals.

Speaking in Spanish, he said the instructions inside were detailed, from showing temperatures, to which spices to use and several other components to prepare each meal.

Authorities said the trade secrets were valued very highly.

“Recipes are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars,” said Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez.

According to police, Gottberg Marquez had been working at Mordisco for about a month.

Investigators said surveillance video showed the suspect removing two of the restaurant’s recipe books from the kitchen without authorization on Oct. 12, followed by a third book on Oct. 19.

According to the report, police caught Gottberg Marquez in possession of the cookbooks at a second job at a smoothie and sandwich shop, just a few blocks away from Mordisco.

“We don’t know if he was sent by another criminal enterprise to take this for a fee, but this person was in possession of these cookbooks,” said Lopez. “He did it on two separate occasions. Through CCTV cameras, the owner of the restaurant immediately notified law enforcement officers.”

Gonzalez said he’s relieved his restaurant’s secret recipes were safely returned.

Gottberg Marquez was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and faces one count of theft of trade secrets, a third-degree felony.

He has since bonded out of jail.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier claims the website has allegedly allowed child abuse from online predators by not having users’ ages be verified and failed to moderate explicit content.

“Companies like Roblox have become breeding grounds for predators to get to and have access to our kids,” said Uthmeier.

Uthmeier claimed his office has arrested more than 1,000 child predators this year, with many of those investigations leading back to Roblox.

“These criminal subpoenas will enable us to gather more information for our prosecutors about the criminal activity taking place on Roblox’s platform,” said Uthmeier.

However, Roblox refutes those claims, stating that they have added protections for children, which includes prohibiting the sharing of images and videos in online chats, filters to help block the exchange of personal information and the implementation of age estimation for users.

“We take every case of harm extremely seriously. Any platform of our size, it draws bad actors and our job is to do the best that we possibly can to prevent anything from happening on our platform,” said Roblox Chief Safety Officer Matt Kaufman.

The company has faced intensifying scrutiny over protecting children online, including from the family of 15-year-old Ethan Dallas.

Dallas’ family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Roblox, claiming it failed to protect their son from a sexual predator leading to his suicide.

Roblox responded to Dallas’ family, saying it was “deeply saddened” by his death, but said it can’t comment on the ongoing litigation.

Florida is not the only state seeking legal action against the platform.

Officials in Louisiana and Kentucky are also suing Roblox, claiming they don’t do enough to protect kids.

The new construction will happen underwater where, officials say, art will meet the ocean.

On Monday, the first of 22 small concrete cars was lowered to the ocean floor. Rough waves posed a challenge for crews as it took them about an hour to get the first car deployed.

The cars will be arranged into an underwater traffic jam along the entire seven-mile length of Miami Beach. More deployments are expected Tuesday and throughout the week.

The project marks the launch of REEFLINE, Miami Beach’s new public sculpture park. Visitors could snorkel, dive, swim, paddleboard or even kayak to check the underwater sculpture out.

The sculpture is a unique blend of art, tourism and climate resilience, designed by internationally-renowned artist Leandro Erlich.

Organization officials say it’s an effort to help the barrier reef system, host coral restoration and protect the city’s beachfront from storm surge.

The cars, which are seeded with corals, weigh about 13 tons and is used to provide homes to the marine life.

REEFLINE aims to bring the ocean into the heart of the community and to raise $40 million to construct future sculptures.

Organization officials say they are shaping a new model for environmental learning by merging art, science and education. Some designs include sculptures inspired by sea stars and the heart of a blue whale.

The underwater design is expected to finish installation by the end of October and visitors can begin visiting it in November.

A candlelight memorial turned into a block-wide bash to honor Dwight Wells after he was killed on Saturday.

“That’s what he stood for, bikes up, guns down,” said a resident.

“This is the hand of the Lord. My son has been faithfully preaching about God. He loved God because God first loved him,” said Mary Robbins Brown, Wells’ mother.

Brown was joined by more than 100 others to remember her son’s impact in the neighborhood.

The crowd gathered onto the street outside Wells’ restaurant at the corner of Northwest 51st Street and Northwest 17th Avenue, where he was shot while playing a game of dominoes.

Surveillance video captured panicked people running from the restaurant after shots rang out with Wells collapsing moments later.

Wells was rushed to the hospital but did not survive.

“The pain ain’t going nowhere. The pain ain’t never going anywhere,” said Arthur Phillips, Wells’ uncle.

Over the years, Wells comforted many families who had lost loved ones to gun violence.

During a 2017 interview with 7News, Wells described his work with the Wheels Up, Guns Down movement in the city.

“I seen that bike was always a part of our culture. Keeping that gun out of their hands is the main objective and that’s what we are all about,” Wells said at the time.

That sentiment becoming a lasting legacy for his community, Thursday night.

“He was a legend. He was a pioneer in Miami,” said Phillips.

“Impactful, impactful. It’s showing the dream must live on,” Jemmy Jasman, Wells’ brother-in-law.

What started as an evening of sorrow turned into a celebration of life for Wells’ family and community.

“He’s like our Martin Luther King. He’s like our Martin Banks. He is a pioneer for Miami,” said Phillips.

The community also sending a message to the gunman responsible for his death, who authorities continue searching for.

“I wanna give God praise. You can run but you can’t hide. God has angels dispatched to this case and He is going to bring you in,” said Brown.

If you have any information on this crime, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.

Officials said Miami Police and Fire Rescue units were dispatched to Camillus House located in the area of Northwest Third Court and Fourth Street at around 8:30 p.m., Thursday in reference to a barricaded subject, who was possibly armed.

7News cameras captured the intense response by Miami Police and SWAT teams as they worked to get the person to surrender, sparking several road closures, though those roadways have since been reopened.

According to officials, as they were trying to get a handle on the situation one officer fired their weapon but no one was struck.

“Shots fired, shots fired,” was heard over the police scanner.

“We have an officer in shock. See if you can get a contact an LT to come by as well. The shot’s fired for now, we’re not shot or anything like that. The individual is still inside the building,” radioed an officer.

Apparent bullet holes pierced the window of the downtown Miami building which provides services to the homeless.

The standoff came an end at around 2:30a.m., Friday with the subject being taken into custody, officials said.

No injuries have been reported.

Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.

Alfred Forbes was just about to board his flight to meet with longtime friends to play softball when he suddenly began feeling disoriented and agitated.

“My wife looked at me and the last thing I remember, she said, ‘Honey, are you OK?’ And I look at her like, ‘What do you mean if I’m OK,’ you know,” said Forbes.

His wife noticed his deteriorating condition.

“He started feeling confused, has trouble with his speech,” said Mehdi Bouslama, a stroke specialist at Broward Health Medical Center.

At the sight of his face beginning to droop down, she immediately called 911.

Paramedics quickly recognized Forbes was suffering a life-threatening stroke and rushed him to the hospital for treatment.

“This only took about five minutes to get the answers that we needed. The team was activated, we went to the [cardiac catheterization] lab and the clot was removed,” said

Thanks to the immediate call to first responders and speedy trip to the hospital, doctors were able to remove the clot building up above his heart in just seven minutes.

Bouslama says they utilized an AI tool to help save his life as fast as possible because every minute counts when dealing with a stroke.

“It’s trained to recognize whether there is an occlusion or interruption of blood flow. But it also gives us information on salvageable tissue or brain tissue that did not die already,” said Bouslama.

Weeks later, Forbes has recovered and got to meet the heroes who saved him at the Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale.

“This is a big surprise for me and it makes me, puts me on my own little pedestal to see that everybody here did their job exceptionally well, for me to sit up here and explain what took place,” said Forbes.

First responders joined his medical team to celebrate the occasion, coming together to see how Forbes has been doing ever since their fast thinking helped save his life.

Bouslama praised his team and first responders.

“If you guys did not bring him in in time, I would have not been able to treat him, so I want to thank you for recognizing the signs of stroke, for bringing him in early,” said Bouslama.

He also gifted Forbes with a “Gift of Life” award, recognizing him for his courage and making great strides in returning to a normal life.

Forbes gave the team his heartfelt gratitude for everything they did.

“I’m very thankful for all you guys and everybody that was involved in a part of it, I really, really appreciate it,” said Forbes.

Forbes said his friends look forward to having him join them on the softball field again once he’s fully recovered.

In an interview with Inside Edition, Darren Brown said he still struggles coping with the fact that so many people were killed in crashes involving trains he conducted for the high-speed rail company.

“In six years, I’ve had 16 fatalities,” he said.

Brown believes more fencing around the tracks would go a long way in preventing further tragedies from happening.

“Where this fence ends, there’s not another fence for over 20 miles,” said Brown. “There just needs to be more fencing in more congested areas.”

The troubling trend of people and cars being struck by Brightline trains causing some to call it “the most dangerous train in the nation.”

With trains capable of reaching up to 125 miles per hour, the crashes often lead to deadly consequences.

Just last month, a grandmother was captured on camera driving around the crossing arms just before being struck by a Brightline train. That driver did not survive.

A group of grieving family members said they all had relatives who were walking on the tracks when they were struck and killed by a Brightline train.

Attorney Todd Baker represents the families and agrees with Brown, arguing Brightline needs to do more to improve safety around the tracks.

“What can you do, you can make it safe enough, you can make it mistake-proof, and if you make it mistake-proof, no one’s dying,” said Baker.

When asked by Inside Edition what their message to Brightline would be, one family member said: “Protect the lives of the people that live around your track, don’t they matter?”

Brightline has not been found at fault for any deaths that have happened on the tracks, both with people walking on them and driving across them.

In a statement, the company says it follows all federal rail guidelines and has continued to implement additional safety improvements. It also says all of the deadly train strikes were “the result of illegal, deliberate and oftentimes, reckless behavior by people putting themselves in harm’s way.”

Tuesday morning, Turtle Patrol Volusia found a young green turtle on the beach with a big chunk of its shell missing. It was taken to the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet, where despite their best efforts, it did not survive.

It’s not clear what caused the piece of the turtle’s shell to crack, but it is far from the only one to have been washed ashore.

Alyssa Hancock with the Marine Science Center said the waves caused by these storm systems are wreaking havoc on marine life. In terms ot sea turtle hatchlings, those lucky enough to make it to the water are being kicked back into the sand.

“They’re not able to just float and take good breaths. They’re actually getting tumbled in those waves,” she said. “They will kind of get stuck in that seaweed, that sargassum, and once that washes on shore, they’ll come out of the surf, but then they’ll actually be stuck in that.”

The Marine Science Center said it has about 80 young turtles in its care that are recovering victims of storms in the Atlantic.

“We actually get them in pretty lethargic, and once they’ve washed up, they actually can’t get back out to the ocean on their own,” she said.

As the little ones float around in a shallow pool at the Marine Science Center, they’re in the process of being rehabilitated to full strength.

“We give them fluids with some dextrose, which is sugar, to kind of help give them a little bit of energy, and then we’ll actually try them in some shallow water and make sure that, you know, they’re in water and they’re able to try and be offered food as well,” said Hancock.

The Marine Science Center urges anyone who sees a washed up turtle to call them at 386-304-5545.

“What are the Democrats doing? This is a clean resolution. All we’re doing is keeping the funding. Actually, the funding is too high, it’s still the Biden funding but I don’t want to shut down government so I support it,” said U.S. Senator Rick Scott.

“We’re fighting to lower costs, cancel the cuts and save healthcare,” said U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu.

In South Florida, our two national parks — Everglades and Biscayne– remain partially opened as their visitor center is closed and some park employees have been furloughed.

The announcement by the National Park Service threw a wrench into the plans of a couple from Maine who were in town to see the beautiful Everglades.

“Yeah, a little disappointed,” said Wess. “Our plans were ruined today. It’s really sad.”

Despite the shutdown, critical services like the Postal Service and Medicare and Social Security payments will continue. Federal courthouses will remain opened as well.

At South Florida airports, things are running smoothly. Transportation Security Administration and air traffic controllers are deemed essential workers so they are expected to come to work despite not getting paid until a deal is reached in Washington.

TSA wrote on social media: “Approximately 61,000 of the agency’s 64,000 employees are considered excepted or exempt and TSA will continue operations to keep the [traveling] public safe. The remaining employees will be temporarily furloughed.”

Experts say a prolonged shutdown could increase call outs of many TSA agents, bringing flight disruptions to the airports.

TSA officials are asking for patience for passengers during this shutdown as they say they process about 2.5 million passengers every day.

7News cameras on Thursday captured the governor at Florida International University in West Miami-Dade as he announced the expansion of school choice by opening a new charter school system called Success Academy.

“The sky’s going to be the limit for what they are going to be able to do in the state of Florida,” said DeSantis.

The charter schools were started in New York as their largest charter school system, and now they’re coming to Florida, thanks to a mix of state funding and private donations, including a $50 million from Ken Griffin, the CEO of Citadel, a hedge fund company that relocated its headquarters from New York to South Florida.

“We will pave the road for tens of thousands of students here in Florida to join all of us in living the American dream,” said Griffin.

Florida’s Lt. Gov Jay Collins said students will succeed under this model.

“When good people and good organizations step up beside us to help push forward and lead, everybody gets stronger because of it,” said Collins.

DeSantis said Success Academy will be opening some brand-new schools, but they will also be able to overtake underperforming public schools or empty spaces through Florida’s Schools of Hope program.

The move comes as several public schools see declining enrollments, aging facilities and post-pandemic student struggles.

“They are going into areas that have been more difficult to provide quality education. Here in Florida, they are going to be going in areas that have schools that have been very poor performers.

The governor said this will give students who may not have had great education a chance to do something different.

“We believe, regardless of where you’re from, regardless of how much money your parents have, regardless of your ethnic heritage, regardless of whether you’re male or female, that you have an ability to succeed, if you’re given the proper tools to have a really good education,” said DeSantis.

Eva Moskowitz, the president of Success Academy, also spoke at Thursday’s news conference.

“[These schools] are not only going to help poorest and most vulnerable children in Florida, but I think you’re going to set a national standard for the country,” she said.

Moskowitz touted Success Academy’s record of 100% college acceptance rate for their graduates. Many of these institutions, she said, are highly respected ones.

Public school advocates say this new law will allow charter networks to open Schools of Hope in an area that doesn’t serve any student at all from a low-performing school

The United Teachers of Dade, the union representing Miami-Dade teachers, said the governor’s plan is an experiment that will hurt teachers and strain public schools.

In a statement, UTD’s Antonio White said in part:

“Co-location proposals further strain our schools by forcing us to provide custodial, food, safety, nursing, and transportation services to charters for free, stretching already inadequate budgets even thinner. Our students deserve real investment in proven public-school solutions, not experiments that pull resources from the schools serving our communities.”

At the event, DeSantis called these new schools “public schools without teacher’s unions.”

“It’s not something that the teacher’s unions want to be successful. Why would that matter? Because they are the ones that really call a lot of the shots, unfortunately, in some of these states and one of the things that we did in Florida was say, no automatic deduction for teacher union dues,” said DeSantis.

Success Academy did not specify the location of its Miami-Dade location, which should be opening during the 2027-28 school year. Officials said 40 locations are expected to open throughout the state over a 10-year period.

Friday’s deadly crash in Rockledge was captured by a nearby medical building’s surveillance system.

The 83-year-old driver can be seen pulling up to the crossing arms and tapping them before driving across the tracks, right before the train passes through. The footage was paused right before the train collided with the car.

The driver did not survive.

Employees working at that building were horrified when they played the security footage.

“When the flames happened, we were all just, like, in disbelief,” said Brittany Moore, a medical assistant at the building. “I think we’re all kind of happy that we were not here, because I think we all would have reacted hysterically, very upset.”

The crash happened on the same day Brightline announced a national “See Tracks? Think Train” Week, which runs through Sunday.

The company partnered with Melbourne Police and several other South Florida law enforcement agencies to encourage drivers to pay attention and follow safety laws, especially when the guard gates go down at a train track.

“Yeah, I think it’s time for people to realize that there are real trains here, and they need to stop and be careful,” said Dr. Marja Sprock, a physician at the building.

The crash remains under investigation.

On Thursday, 54-year-old Glen Turf is out of his job as Chief Officer for Global Learning Opportunities, Belongings and Empowerment at Miami Country Day, a prestigious private school in Miami Shores.

Turf resigned after posting a quote about Kirk’s assassination on social media that read: “He died. Oh well, he ironically promoted gun usage. Karma.”

The comments sparked outrage among the community, as it came just a day after Kirk was fatally shot while speaking with university students at Utah Valley University.

In a letter to the school community, the school’s president said, “Effective today, Glen Turf is resigning,” adding that his post “does not align with our values. Mr. Turf has apologized for his remarks.”

7News passed by Turf’s home to get his side of the story, but the front door never opened.

However, a woman’s voice could be heard from a Ring doorbell camera where she said: “Get the [expletive] off the property.”

Turf isn’t the only one being criticized for his comments. Down south in Palmetto Bay, one of the village’s council members, Steve Cody, is being urged to resign by community members, state and federal officials after he posted his opinion on the killing.

Cody wrote: “Charlie Kirk is a fitting sacrifice to our lords: Smith and Wesson. Hallowed be their names.”

Protesters and local town officials gathered at Village Hall on Thursday to condemn Cody’s comments.

“It’s not funny, and it’s too late to kind of, in my opinion, turn back the dial on it,” said Palmetto Bay Mayor Karyn Cunningham.

“To mock the brutal assassination of a political activist is incredibly disgusting,” said Palmetto Bay Vice Mayor Mark Merwitzer.

While the town leaders said they don’t have the power to remove Cody or reprimand him, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis can.

“I’m sending an email to the governor demanding [Cody’s] immediate revocation of office,” Merwitzer told the crowd of protesters.

But as of late Thursday evening, Cody appears to be staying put. He responded on social media, apologizing for the comment. He posted a letter that read, “I screwed up,” and “I regrettably made a significant error in judgment.”

However, the Republican Party of Miami-Dade says that’s not good enough. In a statement, they wrote: “Councilman Cody has forfeited the public trust. We call for his immediate removal from office.”

Miami County Day announced late Thursday it would close their school and all activities through Sunday due to “unverified online threats.”

In addition, Florida’s Educational Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas wrote in a letter to school superintendents across the state that he has seen “disgusting comments” about Kirk online and said he will investigate any teacher who engages in “this vile, sanctionable behavior.”

In the quiet Lehigh Acres neighborhood near Fort Myers, homeowner Edward Wells said he was minding his own business when his dog, Bailey, came into the home with blood on him.

Moments later, he heard a crashing sound that lifted him out of his chair.

Suddenly, there was an explosion. It was louder than a shotgun, and I thought maybe, maybe we’d be bombed. But then, suddenly, this huge black thing was right here,” said Wells.

The wild boar came running in, and as Wells tried to get up using his walker, he said, the boar turned around and tried to attack him.

“He stood there, just stood there, and stood there for, what, half-hour, 45 minutes, I don’t know,” said Wells.

Wells said the boar did not move as he slowly chewed on the shattered glass. Deputies were quickly called to step in and wrangle the animal.

“I’ve never heard – gee, gosh!” said the deputy as he walked into the living room and saw the boar.

“Right? It’s a big, mean animal,” said a woman.

“It came through, busting through the back door?” asked the deputy.

“Yeah,” said the woman.

“It’s like a 300-pound sow,” said the deputy in his radio transmitter.

Without warning, the boar’s new target became the deputies, forcing them to run out the back door.

“Easy, easy!” said one deputy as the boar ran against him.

“You better … stop!” said another deputy.

Video shows the boar running into the deputies and then running in circles until it tried charging into the deputies again.

Body camera footage captured deputies not using Tasers, but lassoes to conquer the boar. However, theie efforts were unsuccessful.

“Hey, bring me that rope,” said the deputy.

Deputies attempted to capture the boar with a lasso, but the wild beast escaped into the forest.

First responders followed the wild boar until they lost sight of it in a wooded area.

“It’s going east towards the woods,” said a deputy.

Following this experience, Wells has some advice for anyone who may encounter one in their life.

“If anybody sees this creature, I would suggest staying away from it, you know, because it isn’t friendly, and it don’t like people. You know, so, and it’s big, really big,” he said.

Wells said Bailey had to get stitches.

He is now back to playing his puzzles on his iPad, hoping nothing else comes crashing through the door.

“It was weird, man. I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. You imagine sitting in your house and seeing a 300-pound creature come walking in, you know,” said Wells.

Experts say, in the unlikely and unlucky chance that one comes across a boar, the best thing to do is stay calm and not move a muscle.

Dash camera video shows Florida Highway Patrol troopers throwing the man to the ground after deploying their Tasers following multiple escape attempts. Cellphone video posted online by Only In Dade also showed the cartoonish scene as a Taser-wielding trooper chased the man.

Investigators said the driver, identified as 32-year-old James Preston McDowell, came to a stop just north of Opa-locka Boulevard after colliding with a black Audi, pinning the Audi to a concrete barrier, then ditched his vehicle.

A trooper can be seen approaching McDowell, appearing to reach for her Taser. A confrontation ensues and McDowell runs off.

The Taser-wielding trooper attempted to follow McDowell, who circled back around toward his car.

Witness Yaroslav Yedynak said he had a front-row seat to the attempted escape.

“It was right next to me,” said Yedynak. “It got a little weird because he ran away, and then he turned around and ran back to his car again, almost, like, to get something, and then he ran again.”

McDowell is shown running back to his damaged car, opening the driver’s side door and reaching inside quickly before running off again.

Troopers followed him from their cruiser in the merge lane and attempted to deploy their Tasers on McDowell as he began weaving in between cars, including Yedynak’s black Honda Civic.

“I guess they Tased him because when he was running toward me, there was blood on his shirt,” said Yedynak.

The Taser’s prongs appeared to make contact with McDowell but did not appear to affect him as he kept running.

Troopers deployed their Tasers so many times, one trooper wrote in her arrest report, “I concluded that the subject was in an excited delirium state, possibly under narcotics.”

When authorities managed to get him under control on the ground, McDowell briefly slipped away one final time before he was wrestled back to the ground and placed in handcuffs.

McDowell faced a judge hours later.

“You were arrested for aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer after accident or injury, resisting an officer with violence,” said Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Mindy S. Glazer.

McDowell has since bonded out of jail.

A 7News crew reached out to McDowell at his home for comment, but nobody was home.

Bianca Pereyra, a pre-K teacher at Miami Springs Elementary School, was stunned Thursday when she found out she would be getting a free cruise after winning a giveaway.

“We want to reward you with a cruise on us,” said a Moe DeWitt, from JustCallMoe Injury & Accident Attorneys.

The veteran teacher has had a difficult year. Pereyra was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer earlier this year and has undergone multiple surgeries, chemotherapy and other treatments.

Her daughter, Mia, knew the battle was taking its toll.

“It’s been a struggle seeing her deal with the chemo and the cancer, going through it all a while now,” said Mia.

Mia nominated her mother for a teacher cruise giveaway, saying that despite all the challenges her mother had to face, she continued to show up for her students every day, filled with joy, energy and compassion.

“This was a beautiful surprise. It was nice that my oldest was scrolling through social media and found this trip, nominated me not only as her mom, but as a teacher, it’s great to have that, you know,” said Bianca.

Bianca was one of more than 600 teachers who were nominated in the giveaway.

In the end, she would take home the $2,000 cruise voucher, courtesy of JustCallMoe Injury & Accident Attorneys, who said she was selected for too many reasons to count.

“She’s had a lot of health issues, but she’s still showing up every day, coming into school, teaching these students, her students love her, she’s even doing classes on the weekends, things like that, so she’s really just a dedicated, devoted teacher here,” said DeWitt.

Mia was excited to find out her mom won such a special gift.

“It shocked me when I won, but I’m very happy that she got to be nominated on the cruise,” said Mia.

“You could really see in the nomination, her daughter’s love for her, but also her daughter made it very clear, her daughter doesn’t want it for her herself, her daughter’s not going on the cruise with her unless she really wants to, of course,” said DeWitt.

Bianca was left overwhelmed with emotion, cherishing her family and her community for helping her through her battle with cancer.

“I was always fighting, I’ve had a lot of support with my school family, my pre-K family, my community itself, my children. I couldn’t have done it without them,” said Bianca.

It’s the second time JustCallMoe has awarded a free cruise to a Florida teacher, which the company said is part of their commitment to celebrate educators who help shape the next generation.

Bianca said she can see the finish line in her battle after a few more treatments she has scheduled.

Hollywood Fire Rescue & Beach Safety on Tuesday gave 7News a demonstration of their newly launched drone-assisted rescue system.

“Somebody could hold onto that and buy them some time until a rescue could get to them,” said Hollywood Fire Rescue Battalion Chief David Guernsey.

Hollywood is the first fire department in Broward County to have this life-saving technology, which equips their drones with flotation devices to fly to people in distress.

“This is how it comes packaged. It is water activated; soon as it hits the water, it deploys and then turns into this,” said Guernsey.

The system is set to enhance emergency response times, with the drone capable of going up to two miles offshore and having a mile of range to deploy the device.

“This is able to help support our lifeguards when they’re off duty, to protect our beaches, to be able to help rescue someone,” said Guernsey. “This doesn’t save them, but this will buy them time for a rescuer to get them to safety.”

The drone is meant to give a fighting chance to those in the water as they wait for help to arrive, especially when there are no lifeguards on duty.

“You know, our lifeguards are great here in the City of Hollywood, but if it’s after-hours, and someone from the fire department or police department is going out to rescue them, it might be out of their capabilities, so this will help them with that,” said Guernsey.

Officials hope to bring a sense of safety to their community.

“Well, with the amount of water that’s in the City of Hollywood — it’s something that is near and dear to us — we wanna make sure we can protect our citizens when they need it,” said Guernsey.

Officials said the drone will not be used in every situation, with factors like weather affecting the rescue response.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said the attack happened while the boy, identified as Richard Burrows, was in the water with family in the area of Horseshoe Reef, off the coast of Key Largo, just before 3:30 p.m. on Monday.

The child’s father dialed 911 moments after the incident.

“911, what is your emergency?” said a dispatcher.

“We’re off shore, a shark bite,” said the boy’s father.

“A shark bite? Are you guys able to bring the patient back in?” said the dispatcher.

“Yeah, we’re on a boat,” said the boy’s father.

Deputies said the child was bitten above the knee and suffered severe injuries while snorkeling.

“How bad is the bite? Is he awake and breathing?” said the dispatcher.

“Yeah, he’s breathing, awake,” said the boy’s father.

A good Samaritan on a nearby dive vessel, Horizon Divers, spotted the family in need. Without hesitation, he hopped on the family’s boat and transported the boy to Garden Cove, where an emergency crew was waiting.

“Yo, we’re coming in hot to the marina, we’re probably five minutes out,” the boy’s father told the dispatcher.

“OK, the ambulance is there, OK?” said the dispatcher.

Throughout the call, the child’s father is heard instructing his 10-year-old daughter, Rose, to keep her Richard’s leg elevated to slow the bleeding.

“Rose hold the leg up. Hold the leg up!” said the father.

“Don’t worry. Don’t worry!” said Rose in an effort to reassure her dad.

“So, we have an 8-year-old, significant amount of blood loss. The injury is significant,” a first responder told dispatchers in emergency radio traffic captured on Broadcastify.

The Key Largo Fire Department said first responders “conducted a rapid assessment of the young patient, discovering bite wounds to the left leg.”

“Applying tourniquets, trying to stop the bleeding, that’s the most important thing when you’re dealing with any kind of deep shark bite wound,” said Key Largo Fire Capt. Chris Jones.

Another first responder said they applied two tourniquets and used a bandage “to control the bleeding.”

Jones didn’t treat the boy directly, but he said his team followed life-saving protocols.

“Getting that child in as quick as possible to first responders so they can get to proper treatment and the proper hospitals,” he said.

Burrows was later airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center in Miami. MDSO officials said the boy underwent surgery Monday night and was able to keep his left leg.

“Hopefully, he’s going to make a strong recovery,” said Jones.

In a statement released from the family on Wednesday identified the attacker as a Blacktip shark.

“I have two kids myself, so it’s definitely something that, you know, is in the back of your mind,” said Jones.

Key Largo Fire officials thanked the good Samaritan who came to the family’s help, writing, “We commend their quick actions in helping to transport the victim to our emergency responders.”

Burrow’s family released the following statement on Wednesday:

“The Burrows family would like to extend its sincere thanks to all those involved in Richard’s rescue and the amazing teamwork demonstrated[…]”

The family credited Richard’s 10-year-old sister, Rose, calling her “instrumental in her brother’s rescue” and adding that “both of her parents are immensely proud of the strength of character and composure she demonstrated under pressure.”

The family is focused on Richard’s recovery and while they’re grateful to those who reached out they are asking for privacy during this time.

“Richard is recovering well from his surgery and is gaining strength by the day. He is in good spirits. Our hope is that he will be back enjoying his passion for the ocean and marine life with his older sister in no time.”

-Burrows Family

The family also thanked the good Samaritan who took them back to shore.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard were notified of the incident.

Speaking to 7News on Tuesday, 35-year-old Marquis Clerge said it has been a rough two weeks for him as he recounts what happened during the incident that started in the parking lot of a barber shop.

“It all started on August 10,” said Clerge.

He says the person he may have cut off while on the road followed him there.

“He began to get very irate. He was saying ‘You cut me off,’ just very angry and from that point me and him, we started to have a little back and forth,” said Clerge.

The victim said after a few verbal attacks back and forth, he gathered his kids and left the area, only to be chased by the man and cornered.

“A white Toyota Camry pulls up in front of me at an angle where I can’t go left or right, and two Hispanic males get out of the car, one of them has a weapon,” said Clerge.

Clerge took off, damaging his car in the process and was able to flag down a police officer.

“The officer was able to see the vehicle that I pointed at, I said ‘these guys are chasing us they have a weapon,'” said Clerge.

At that point, no arrests were made.

But Clerge said two days later, things would get worse for him. While picking up his son from a basketball game, he said he saw the same men again.

“They were ready to fight. They said ‘We finally got you’ and they were ready to fight,” said Clerge.

He said he ran but couldn’t get away this time.

“I was hit really, really hard a few times, and I fell and hit the ground and I was beat until I was unconscious,” said Clerge. “I had a huge gash in my head, my lip was split in two and I had a very large lump on the side of my face.”

He said doctors had to install a metal plate and screws to his head to patch him back together during the surgery.

Police responded to the athletic complex and one arrest was made, 20-year-old Frumence Saint Preux.

“They said that on the camera they could clearly see that he hit me,” said Clerge.

He tells 7News the scary situation still rattles him days later.

“Everyday I wake up and I can’t believe that my face, I can’t believe one situation led to this where I could’ve possibly lost my life,” said Clerge.

Police said the investigation is ongoing.

“They do know there were others involved but they stated they have to do more investigations in order to make an arrest on the other individuals,” said Clerge.

Clerge said he won’t feel safe until that happens.

“I won’t feel comfortable until all of them are held accountable,” said Clerge.

If you have any information on this crime, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.

According to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, shortly after 5 p.m. Monday, deputies responded to the 5400 block of Northeast Third Avenue following reports of a stabbing.

Cellphone video from outside the home showed deputies and rescue crews arriving to the neighborhood.

Oakland Park Fire Rescue also responded and found Jordan Dowdy suffering from stab wounds.

First responders could be seen rushing to the home with a stretcher while deputies had someone in custody, who was placed into a BSO cruiser shortly after. Deputies did not confirm if this person was the teen that was arrested.

“They began rushing a kid out on a stretcher who was covered in blood in a compression suit and they were trying to do CPR on him,” said Akyra Gulley, a neighbor.

Dowdy was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Detectives determined the 16-year-old suspect was responsible for the stabbing, which stemmed from a verbal and physical altercation, investigators said.

Several area residents told 7News they were saddened by what happened but aren’t surprised it happened at the group home.

“It’s very sad, we’re all really sad for the kids and what’s happened, but we also have been on high alert against them because we have had so many issues already,” said a resident who did not want to be identified.

Neighbors said the home has served as a group home for the past two years, with kids moving in and out frequently.

They said they’ve had some serious concerns about the facility, telling 7News threats have been made toward them, in some cases forcing deputies to respond to the home often.

On Tuesday, video showed a biohazard team entering the home to clean the interior and even placing caution tape over the front entrance.

Neighbors said there might’ve been signs something terrible was about to happen and they hope this sparks the group home to be shut down so the kids could be moved somewhere else to get better care.

“I hope that it is shut down and those kids are placed in a legitimate home where people are actually taking care of them and monitoring their wellbeing. There’s a lot of mental distress going on there. I don’t think that the people who are running the group home are doing it because it’s what they should be doing,” said Gulley. “It’s very heartbreaking especially seeing the past two weeks, he was very distressed and it seems like he knew something bad was gonna happen.”

“I’m concerned about the children and the care that they were in. I’m concerned about the cops, the number of times that they were brought out here and what they’re able to do,” said a neighbor.

The victim’s mother told 7News off camera that she wants justice for her son and she believes the system failed him.

Family members said Dowdy loved football and he was a protector of his siblings.

The suspect has since been taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center for processing. His identity has not been publicly released.

He faces one count of first-degree murder.

A GoFundMe has been created to cover the funeral expense to lay Jordan to rest. If you would like to donate, click here.

The cat, named “Hawkeye,” was found with a 5-inch blowgun dart lodged in its body earlier this month.

After spending a few days at a veterinary clinic in Fort Lauderdale and undergoing emergency surgery, veterinarians say the 7-year-old cat is doing all right.

“Our kitty is recovering very nicely. He’s eating and drinking and using the litter box normally at home,” said Dr. Pete Otovica with Good Karma Pet Rescue.

Officials said the bullet narrowly missed the cat’s vital organs.

“This was the original exit point of the dart and this is the entry point of the dart. So it went in here, came out here,” said Otovica. “We’re very lucky that its trajectory was parallel instead of going deeper and going into the muscle.”

The stray cat was found in the area of Southwest Sixth Street after a volunteer at Good Karma Pet Rescue said they had been feeding the cat for seven years and that day, the cat hadn’t showed up to eat.

“That’s how we found him because he stopped showing up for food,” said a volunteer.

The volunteer then found the cat cowering down in a bush and trembling in pain.

“She found him in the bushes and he was hiding and terrified, he wouldn’t come out. she worked for several days to trap him,” said Jodi Daughtry, employee at the veterinary office.

The black cat only has a minor infection to recover from before being discharged from the animal hospital. Doctors hope to find him his new home.

“He’s a feral cat, so he’s not used to being inside or being with people so much. So he’s pretty scared but he’s very friendly,” said Otovica. “We’re going to do a dental exam and treatment for him and make sure his teeth are nice and clean and healthy before he goes to his new destination.”

The medical staff hopes that by sharing this story of rescue and survival, they will encourage people to think twice before abusing such a helpless animal.

“It’s really hard for me to understand what goes through a person’s mind when they are doing something like this to an animal. It’s very upsetting to us and honestly it affects how we think of our human brothers and sisters,” said Otovic.

Police continue looking to where and when the attack happened as they urge the public to come forward with information.

You may contact the Hallandale Beach Police Department at 954-457-1400.

Authorities received reports of a boy shot in the area of North Miami Avenue and 31st Street, Tuesday afternoon.

The injured 13 year old was driven by a family member to Jackson Memorial Hospital.

7News cameras captured police blocking off part of the hospital’s entrance area where the family member parked their car as officers searched for clues.

The teen was also seen exiting the car, appearing to walk with some assistance.

Officials say the teen is in stable condition.

Investigators were seen taking pictures of the inside of the gold SUV, which later left the hospital Tuesday evening.

Authorities said while one person was detained, no arrests have been made.

The investigation is ongoing.

Broward Sheriff’s Office detectives are asking for the public’s help to identify the subjects behind the drive-by shooting that took place near the 1300 block of Northwest 27th Avenue around 3:30 a.m. on Aug. 6.

“The caller advising she heard 10 to 12 gunshots. Advise, the shots appear to be coming from the 10-20,” a dispatcher said over the Broadcastify police scanner.

A white car can be seen in the video pulling up to the home but then begins reversing before two people exit the vehicle and began to open fire at the house.

The shooters then hop back into the car shortly after and flee the scene.

Detectives say nobody was inside the home at the time of the shooting, and nobody in the surrounding area was hurt.

“We don’t know if this was a targeted situation however it was a horrifying situation. This could have killed someone,” said a BSO spokesperson Gerdy St. Louis.

Neighbors like Jacky Cortez told 7News in Spanish that she heard a loud commotion and then saw deputies arriving shortly after.

She added that following this shooting, she doesn’t feel safe in the neighborhood.

“Everyone wants to be in a neighborhood where there is peace,” said another area resident.

If you have any information on this crime, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.

Taylor Stanberry came out on top in the yearly challenge after she captured 60 pythons in 10 days. In total, competitors captured 294 invasive reptiles, a new record for the challenge.

“It was crazy, actually, winning; I’m very honored to win it,” said Stanberry.

For the 29-year-old winner, it’s far from her first snake hunt.

“So I’m a python contractor for the state, so I do this for a job. So this really isn’t anything too new for me,” said Stanberry. “It’s kind of a normal day in the office, as you would call it.”

Stanberry has had plenty of run-ins with large snakes, but she said her most memorable find during the challenge had to do with much smaller ones.

“One night was fun; we found a nest of 30 babies and the eggs. We didn’t find the mom, she had already left the nest because they were hatching,” said Stanberry. “Two hours to find them all, because they’re in trees, they’re in bushes, they’re in the grass starting to crawl away, they’re in the water; it took a while to find them.”

When she isn’t working on catching pythons, Stanberry and her husband run an exotic animal sanctuary and post their adventures on their YouTube channel, “Tobie’s Troop.”

Stanberry also has a message for anybody who may think capturing snakes is an exciting activity to do for the thrill.

“If you’re going to hunt pythons, do it for the right reasons: saving the Everglades, saving the ecosystem. Don’t just do it because you want to kill a scary creature,” said Stanberry.

Stanberry’s prize for winning the challenge is $10,000. She said the prize money will be used on her exotic animal sanctuary.

Faith leaders from various denominations came from across the state to pray for the detainees being held inside the facility.

“We pray for an end to the fear and suffering,” said a woman as she led participants in prayer.

Many are calling for the detention center to be closed down completely.

“Shut it down! Shut it down! Shut it down!” attendees chanted.

Among those in attendance was the Rev. Laurie Hafner with the Coral Gables United Church of Christ.

“This issue transcends religion, I think it transcends politics, it transcends gender and sexual orientation. It transcends all of us, because the greater good is to free people from the pain that that they are experiencing, the fear that they are facing,” she said, “and so, for all of us to come together from very different places, but to say that this is important to us, I think speaks volumes about who we are and what we need to be doing.”

The prayer vigil follows a similar one held Aug. 3 outside “Alligator Alley,” which was built in eight days in the heart of the Everglades, surrounded by swamplands.

Critics of the facility condemned the conditions, describing them as deplorable.

During the vigil, a detainee spoke to attendees on the phone in Spanish.

“My name is Alex Reyes. The conditions right now are very bad,” he said.

Reyes went on to describe the food at the detention center.

“We didn’t have lunch until 3 in the afternoon, and we’re always eating the same sandwiches and cold food,” he said.

The woman who answered the call, Sonia Bichara, said her 63-year-old fiancé is also a detainee at “Alligator Alcatraz.”

Bichara said her fiancé went to self-report in Miramar and has been held for a month and three days.

“He says it’s literally a dog cage,” she said. “He tried to commit suicide on July 27th, and he was in the clinic for three days, and then he went on the hunger strike.”

Bichara said she’s not sure what’s next.

“They just picked him up, and I don’t know where they’re taking him,” she said.

Sunday’s vigil comes just days after a federal judge ordered a two-week halt on construction at the facility on Thursday.

Environmentalists and members of the Miccosukee Tribe filed a lawsuit claiming the state and federal government bypassed required environmental impact studies.

Bichara said she came to the vigil to share what she’s hearing from the inside.

“They’re not animals, they’re human beings, and I think everybody has the right to have a fair trial,” she said.

While construction is currently at a standstill, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said operations are ongoing, and deportations continue to be processed. He has defended the facility’s conditions since day one, saying it’s part of the state’s efforts to support the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration.

The judge will resume arguments in court on Tuesday.

According to Doral Police, 54-year-old Laura Cabrera showed up to City Hall with a large kitchen knife, this past Saturday.

“Her actions could easily result in her death, because our officers are trained to neutralize a threat immediately, and so, she’s lucky to be alive,” said Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez.

Witnesses said she was yelling angrily about corruption.

Police were initially called by the Doral Cultural Arts Center with a report about “an unknown individual throwing rocks toward the building,” then marching into the building and “continuing to yell about corruption in the city of Doral.”

But before she stormed the Cultural Arts Center, she was seen on surveillance video at City Hall “brandishing a knife, approached the doors and started actively stabbing the glass with this knife,” according to the arrest report.

“And [she] started stabbing the glass with this knife,” said Lopez.

The suspect’s attempt at entering the halls of power left the glass and door frame with scratches, according to police.

A short time later, officers would appear at Cabrera’s home to make the arrest.

Investigators said she “spontaneously stated that she was hearing voices in her head, that they were after her and blamed [Doral] Mayor Christi Fraga for her problems.”

According to the arrest report, at one point Cabrera slammed the handcuffs against her head.

She was checked out at a local hospital before being booked into jail.

“We were lucky to apprehend this individual. This individual has an extensive criminal past,” said Lopez. “Obviously safety and security is something we take very serious.”

Lopez said he recently implemented a new security detail at City Hall to protect city leaders and residents from threats like these.

“We will take any necessary step to safeguard anyone — not only an elected official, but any person that enters our city will receive that same treatment,” he said.

Lopez added that Cabrera is lucky she pulled her stunt on a weekend, when the building was closed.

“Luckily for her, she was able to live because she picked a Saturday,” he said.

Cabrera remains behind bars and faces multiple charges, including criminal mischief and throwing a deadly missile.

The dog, now named Oscar, was dropped off at the Lakeside Animal Hospital’s parking lot in Plantation in July and left for dead, employees said.

On Thursday, his new owner, Frank Flores, got to take him to his new home.

“Something just connected with me when I saw him and I was like, ‘You know what, I got to meet this dog,” said Flores. “When I came here the next day after it was aired, I was with him for maybe two or three minutes, and I just fell in love with him.”

The previously abandoned pup narrowly avoided being hit by a car after being placed outside the animal hospital.

“I was mortified, like I really thought he was going to get killed,” said Estee Froehlich, the hospital’s kennel supervisor.

Surveillance video captured the horrifying moment the driver of a black sedan takes Oscar out of the car, leaving him in the middle of the parking lot before speeding off.

Oscar can then be seen chasing after the sedan onto the main road.

“I just can’t believe somebody could do something like that, like that’s evil,” said Froehlich.

“The dog tried to get back into the car and followed the vehicle, which usually means that dog is familiar with that vehicle and the owner,” said Practice Manager at Lakeside Animal Hospital, Danni Blunt.

After watching the video of Oscar’s abandonment and meeting him, Flores was left stunned by the cruel act.

“How can anybody leave someone this good and this cute, you know, it just doesn’t make any sense,” said Flores

Oscar was traumatized after that day, but his worst days are behind him as he goes to a loving home.

“I just fell in love with the guy, just instantly, and came out here and told them, ‘Listen, he needs to come home with me,’ and sure enough, one of the fortunate of many that applied, that I got him,” said Flores.

Unfortunately, many dogs are abandoned annually.

The staff at Lakeside Animal Hospital has a tip for owners who decide they can no longer take care of their pet.

“There’s so many different avenues, where we would rather people reach out to us or rescues, so that we can try to get these babies the help that they need and get them re-homed,” said Blunt.

It’s still unclear if the driver who abandoned him was Oscar’s previous owner, but if caught, they could face misdemeanor charges.