News Release

Law Enforcement Incident Resolves Without Injuries After Shots Fired At Law Enforcement Rangers In Everglades National Park

Date: March 28, 2021
Contact: Allyson Gantt, 786-610-8023
Contact: Antonia Florio, 786-765-6009

3/29 Update: The Homestead entrance and main park road (SR 9336) have reopened.

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — On March 28 at 6:45 p.m., a 33-year-old white male suspect fired shots at law enforcement rangers along the main park road on State Road 9336, approximately 20 miles from the Homestead entrance. A multi-agency response was initiated. The suspect surrendered and was taken into custody at 8:59 p.m. No one was injured.

Earlier in the day, two park rangers responded to a domestic violence investigation at Mahogany Hammock, involving the same suspect. When the rangers arrived, the suspect had left the scene in his vehicle and was believed to be headed south toward Flamingo. At 5:52 p.m., rangers located the empty vehicle on the main park road, just south of Paurotis Pond. Given the evidence found on scene, the rangers suspected that the subject had fled into the woods and was armed.

With the assistance of Miami-Dade Police Department, the park closed the Homestead entrance to the park on State Road 9336. Public safety notifications and updates were posted on the park’s Twitter account and emailed to local news desks and reporters.

State Road 9336 remains closed from the park entrance to Flamingo at this time.

Thanks to Miami-Dade Police Department, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Customs and Border Protection for their assistance in a successful outcome.