In the aftermath of the cold-blooded murder of a Cuban man at an apartment complex in Hialeah, emerging details shed light on the potential reasons behind the tragic death of 33-year-old Yoendris Campos. It appears that a dispute over a parking space between neighbors may have sparked the incident.
Yoendris Campos was visiting a friend when the attack occurred on a Tuesday around 3:00 pm at the building located at 710 East 9th Street. According to his cousin, who spoke to NBC Miami, Campos was shot after parking in the space belonging to his assailant, who also resides in the residential complex.
"He parked in a spot that apparently belonged to the man who shot him," Braulio Rodríguez recounted. "He and a friend of mine opened the door... and a man came out, shot, and that was it. They say the suspect lives right there, next door, and he's crazy," added Eulices Rondón, another cousin of the victim. "Nobody knows him."
Rodríguez also mentioned that Campos had been welcoming someone who had recently arrived in the United States. "Yoendry was very sociable. [His mother] is not doing well at all. She's devastated. Neighbors [in Cuba] are consoling her," he stated.
From the outset, authorities classified the event as "isolated" and considered a neighborly dispute as the cause of the crime. "This is an isolated incident resulting from what appears to be a neighborhood dispute. There is no public safety threat at this time," clarified Officer José Torres.
The perpetrator, Pedro de Jesús Blanco, a 55-year-old man also of Cuban descent, was apprehended shortly after the incident. Security footage from the complex captured the attack, aiding in his swift arrest.
"The fact that he concealed the weapon and returned after not receiving a response indicates a planned action," a police department spokesperson noted.
During a court hearing the following day, Miami-Dade County Judge Mindy Glazer ruled that Blanco must remain in custody without bail while the legal process unfolds. The state prosecutor presented evidence suggesting a premeditated act. Blanco allegedly went to his apartment to fetch a weapon, hid it in a bag, and returned to the neighbor's door. After initially leaving when there was no answer, he came back immediately when Campos opened the door and shot him directly.
The prosecution emphasized that this precludes any claim of self-defense or impulsive action. Upon searching Blanco's apartment, authorities discovered the murder weapon and a bullet casing inside a kitchen trash bin. Blanco offered no resistance during his arrest.
"We want justice, for that man to pay for what he did. He took away someone dearly loved—a father, a cousin, a worker," a family member expressed during the court proceedings.
Campos, affectionately known among friends as Gaspacho, emigrated from El Vedado, Havana, seven years ago. He was a father to a young daughter and was regarded as a family-oriented, hardworking man with no legal troubles.
Amidst the grief, family and friends have launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for funeral expenses. "He left behind a family and friends who loved him. Through this GoFundMe, we aim to help his mother bid him farewell with dignity," the campaign text reads.
Key Questions About the Murder of Yoendris Campos in Hialeah
What led to the murder of Yoendris Campos?
The murder was allegedly triggered by a dispute over a parking space between neighbors.
Who is the suspect in the murder case?
The suspect is Pedro de Jesús Blanco, a 55-year-old Cuban man who lived in the same complex as the victim.
How was the suspect apprehended so quickly?
The attack was captured by a security camera, which facilitated the immediate arrest of the suspect.
What evidence points to the murder being premeditated?
Evidence includes the suspect retrieving and concealing a weapon, and returning to confront Campos, demonstrating intent rather than an impulsive act.