Latest news with #Brickell
CBS News
12-06-2025
- CBS News
Teen killed in Brickell apartment was with dad despite restraining order, court documents show
New details emerge in stabbing death of a sleeping teen at Brickell condo New details emerge in stabbing death of a sleeping teen at Brickell condo New details emerge in stabbing death of a sleeping teen at Brickell condo A 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death over the weekend in a Brickell high-rise apartment while staying with his father in violation of a court-issued restraining order, according to newly released court documents. Dominic Ferrell, a rising high school senior, was asleep in a condo on the 34th floor of the Icon Brickell when he was fatally stabbed. Police say the suspect, identified as 26-year-old Kyrill Kehl of Arizona, entered the unlocked unit, attacked the teen, and later fell to his death from a nearby building. Father violated protective order, documents show Court documents obtained by CBS News Miami reveal that Ferrell's parents were in the process of divorcing and that his mother had filed a restraining order on behalf of herself and her children following a reported incident of domestic violence. The documents state that in February, Ferrell's father came home intoxicated, pulled his wife from bed, and threw her to the ground. After the order was filed, the court mandated that the father stay away from Dominic and his siblings. However, the documents allege he convinced Dominic to spend substantial time with him despite the order. Ferrell was staying at the apartment with his father when the stabbing occurred. Investigation ongoing as loved ones mourn A video shows Dominic Ferrell during his middle school graduation, describing his time at St. Peter and Paul School. Friends remember him as outgoing and joyful. The court has released Ferrell's remains to his mother for funeral arrangements. Authorities have not yet determined why Kehl attacked Ferrell. A toxicology report is pending to determine if the suspect was under the influence during the attack.
CBS News
09-06-2025
- CBS News
Stabbing at luxury Brickell condo stuns residents as suspect later found dead after fall
A stabbing on the 34th floor of a luxury Brickell high-rise early Sunday morning has left residents shaken and questioning building security, especially after police said the suspect later fell to his death. Miami police responded around 2 a.m. Sunday to reports of a stabbing at the Icon Brickell complex. SWAT officers later searched a nearby building still under construction and found the male suspect dead. Investigators believe he fell, but it remains unclear if the fall was accidental or intentional. Authorities have not yet identified the suspect or the victim and have not confirmed whether the suspect lived at Icon Brickell. Brickell residents demand answers after high-rise stabbing Residents like Ashley Mestre, who lives in a different tower of the complex with her husband and baby, said they're alarmed by the incident. "It's a big red flag. I have a baby. Imagine that — at the end of the day, this is the same type of hallway we have," she told CBS News Miami. Although residents typically need a key fob to access different parts of the building, Mestre noted that "If you really want to, you could take the stairs." Mestre said management has offered little information to residents, citing that the incident occurred in another tower. "They kinda gave us the story that they didn't feel that there was any need to make a statement," she said. CBS News Miami reached out to management but has not received a response. Suspect's death under investigation after SWAT search Christian Tang, who runs a Brickell residents' Facebook group, said he's been flooded with questions about the stabbing. "It makes a lot of members in the community feel uneasy about the safety of what's been going on in the last three, four months in the area," he said. Miami Police Officer Mike Vega told CBS News Miami on Sunday that investigators are still trying to piece together what led up to the stabbing. "We are totally clueless as to why this happened… There was no party going on and there was not a large group," Vega said. Police Chief Manny Morales assured the public the case will be thoroughly investigated. As of Monday, police have not confirmed any relationship between the suspect and the victim.
CBS News
08-06-2025
- CBS News
Man fatally stabbed in Brickwell; police searching for suspect
A man was stabbed to death early Sunday morning in Brickell, near the ICON Brickell condo building, the Miami Police Department said. Miami Police said officers responded to the incident around 2 a.m. When they arrived, they found a man with apparent stab wounds. The victim was declared dead on the scene, police said. Police have begun their investigation, including canvassing the area. Brickell is considered an upscale enclave near downtown Miami, separated by the Miami River. Vacationing tourists staying at the ICON condos across from the crime scene expressed some reserve, but not enough to ruin their time in South Florida or second-guess the area of town they chose to stay. "It's concerning, to say the least. But Brickell's the place to be at, " said Evan Cohen, who is visiting from Orlando. "It's interesting to see all the police and everything out here." Police are searching for the suspect and investigating what led to the fatal stabbing. This is a developing story. We'll have more information when it becomes available.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Miami homeowners protest special tax meant to fund community development — why they say they want a ‘divorce'
Homeowners in several Miami neighborhoods are saying they want out of the Miami Downtown Development Authority (DDA), a group tasked with 'boosting economic development and safety' in the popular vacation city's urban core, reports CBS News. The Miami DDA, an agency funded primarily through a special tax on properties within the downtown district and surrounding neighborhoods, is governed by a 15-member board of directors that includes public appointees, property owners, residents and local business owners. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) The group says it's committed to working collaboratively with residents to promote the area's economic health, but some residents insist the cost is too high. "It takes a bite out of my pocketbook," James Torres, a downtown resident and president of the Downtown Neighbors' Alliance, told CBS News. Here's why representatives of homeowners associations in Miami are calling for a change in how the DDA is funded. Residents of Brickell, a Miami neighborhood adjacent to the downtown area, say they never even see the services the DDA is supposed to offer. "Brickell is not downtown. Downtown is not Brickell," Ernesto Cuesta, president of the Brickell Homeowners Association told CBS News. Some question where the money goes and say the costs are too high, especially considering the rise of condo assessments and insurance costs. Homeowners insurance in Florida is three times more expensive than the national average as of 2024, as per a Fox 13 analysis of Insurance Information Institute data. Following changes to condominium laws after the Surfside condo collapse in 2021, which resulted in the deaths of 98 people, many condo owners are also dealing with assessments that add to their cost of living. Residents insist that the added costs of the DDA on top of insurance increases are too heavy a burden. A recent survey conducted by the Downtown Neighbors' Alliance discovered that most residents want to leave the DDA district. Nearly 58% of residents surveyed said they did not believe the DDA improves their quality of life, says CBS News. Torres told the local Miami station that he believes the authority spends taxpayer money irresponsibly, pointing to the $450,000 that was spent to help the FC Barcelona soccer team move its New York offices to Miami. Torres also wrote a letter to Mayor Francis Suarez complaining about the deal, stating in part: "While Downtown Miami families are being crushed by rising crime, a worsening condo crisis, homelessness, and double taxation, the Miami Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has approved a $450,000 taxpayer giveaway to one of the wealthiest sports franchises in the world — Futbol Club Barcelona." Watchdog blog Political Cortadito also argues that DDA's salaries are redundant and bloated, noting that the group spends more than $800,000 on marketing and PR, which seems to yield little return. The DDA also has a head of urban planning who earns $177,143 yearly and an urban planning strategist who earns $107,261. However, the city commission makes urban planning and zoning decisions through the planning and zoning board, leaving some questioning the purpose of these DDA roles. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it The Miami DDA insists it's focused on improving the district by attracting companies that bring economic benefits. The group says FC Barcelona's office move and the first official Barca soccer merchandise store in the U.S. will be a "major draw for the area," according to a statement obtained by CBS News. Another DDA initiative includes the Miami Trolley, a free electronic trolley that helps residents and visitors easily navigate the downtown area. The group also partners with Camillus House to provide employment for previously homeless individuals performing services in the area, such as street sweeping, litter removal and landscape installation. "While our main focus is economic development, we have increasingly allocated resources to support quality of life, including funding additional police services, implementing a security camera network, expanding our downtown enhancement team, adding mobility options and supporting events hosted by our community partners," a DDA spokesperson shared with CBS News. However, many residents, especially those in the Brickell neighborhood, remain unconvinced. "I'll describe to you what the DDA is for us: it doesn't do anything for Brickell," Cuesta told CBS News. Torres said most residents want to leave the DDA, no matter what services they offer. "We want the divorce," he told CBS News. "They can clearly be very successful in doing what they're wanting to do by creating a business development district." A petition has now been submitted to Miami city commissioners that asks for residents to be removed from the DDA tax zone. 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CBS News
21-05-2025
- CBS News
Lawsuit filed after woman attacked in Brickell apartment closet ambush, lawyer says
An attorney representing a woman who was attacked inside her Brickell apartment said a lawsuit has been filed against the building's management, following what he describes as a terrifying and preventable crime. "An intruder jumps out of the closet and attacks a woman in her sixties. It's just almost unimaginable," said Curt Obront, a partner at Obront, Corey Schoepp Law. "Why did this happen in Brickell?" According to police, 46-year-old Jose Ortega entered the Soma Apartments on Southwest 13th Street on May 5 through an unlocked door. Investigators said he walked into a unit, hid in a closet and later attempted to rape the 62-year-old resident. Police said she was able to fight him off, but Ortega allegedly held her hostage for hours before fleeing. Lawsuit claims management failed to fix broken security Obront said the lawsuit targets Soma Apartments' management, alleging negligence in maintaining basic security features like functioning doors and perimeter gates. "In February… over three months before this incident, people were coming in the unlocked broken doors — basically from the outside, the perimeter doors," Obront said. "Hobos actually [were] sleeping in the hallways inside the building in front of people's apartments." When reporters visited the property, they found both the exterior gate and a door into the building unlocked — the same issues the lawsuit claims were reported but not addressed. Suspect caught in second unit after falling asleep Ortega was arrested after allegedly entering another apartment in the same building, where two women live. Police said he fell asleep on their couch before they called 911. "Just was on our couch so we called the cops," one of the residents said. Residents demand accountability Studio apartments at Soma start at $2,400 a month and residents said that level of rent should come with reliable safety measures. "It's an expensive area and we need more security," said Maria Monro, a resident. "Every six months, something's not working again and we're very considerate and forgiving, but you know, it reached a breaking point," said another resident. Obront said the civil action aims not only to secure justice for his client but to push for stronger protections for residents throughout the Brickell neighborhood. Property managers have not yet responded to a request for comment.
