by Florida City, Florida – A 21-year-old Miami-Dade County man is facing a murder charge after deputies say he fatally shot another man during an argument at a hotel in Florida City last month.
According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (MDSO), Jeffrey Joseph Dabdoub Jr., of Homestead, was arrested Wednesday in connection with the Jan. 26 shooting at the Belmont Inn, located at 553 NE First Avenue.
Investigators say the shooting occurred just after 5:20 p.m. inside a hotel room.
Argument Escalated Inside Hotel Room
Deputies said the incident began when Dabdoub and the victim got into an argument inside the room.
According to the arrest report, Dabdoub allegedly armed himself with a firearm and ordered the victim to leave.
Authorities say the situation escalated when the victim later returned to the room with his mother to retrieve personal belongings.
Investigators allege that when the victim re-entered, Dabdoub again pulled out the gun, prompting a reaction from the victim before Dabdoub fired two shots.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials have not publicly released his identity.
Investigation Contradicted Initial Statements
Following the shooting, Dabdoub was transported to the MDSO Homicide Bureau, where he was read his rights and later released pending further investigation.
However, investigators said that evidence gathered during the probe contradicted statements Dabdoub initially gave to detectives.
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Authorities later took him back into custody and booked him into the Miami-Dade Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Charge and Custody Status
Jail records show Dabdoub is facing one count of second-degree murder.
As of Thursday, he is being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. Officials have not disclosed a motive for the shooting or detailed what the argument was about.
The case remains under active investigation.
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