A tragic outcome unfolded on Tuesday during a SWAT operation led by the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office (MDSO), resulting in a man's death following a shootout linked to an alleged child pornography investigation.
This incident also led to one arrest, leaving a Cuban family devastated and in search of answers, as reported by Local 10 and Telemundo 51.
The operation took place at a residence located at 15513 SW 102nd Court in the Palmetto Estates community. Officers from the Internet Crimes Against Children unit had been conducting an investigation there for over a year.
According to Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz, after announcing their presence with loudspeakers and evacuating two adults and a child, an armed man emerged and "confronted the officers," prompting them to open fire. The individual was pronounced dead at the scene, as detailed by Local 10.
Following the shooting, authorities arrested another individual who was under investigation for the exchange and possession of child sexual abuse material. The alleged victims ranged from infants to six years old, the sheriff noted.
While the official account circulated, a human drama unfolded outside the home, capturing scenes of desperation and confusion.
Zaida González, the mother of one of the residents, arrived in tears after receiving a panicked call.
"My son called me and said, ‘Run, mom. SWAT is here. They killed my stepson,’” she recounted to Telemundo 51.
The woman claims she received no explanation about the events and was only contacted to pick up her three-year-old grandson. “I don’t know why they entered their home. I know nothing,” she insisted.
Inside the residence, another family member, Yudimi Rodríguez, shared through sobs in a video shared by Telemundo 51 how she was forcibly removed without information:
Rodríguez, who lives in the house with her children, husband, and mother, identified the deceased as Christian Barata, 25. Her other son, Christopher, 21, was reportedly the one taken into custody during the raid.
The family adamantly denies the allegations against them:
Wrong House or Justified Raid?
Amid the tension, family members told Telemundo 51 that authorities might have entered the wrong residence. “The grandmother is overwhelmed. They won't let me through because they say there's an investigation. But according to reports, they went into the wrong house,” González claimed.
Sheriff Cordero-Stutz dismissed that possibility:
“There is no evidence of that. We only made contact with one house. The individual in our custody is the one with the search warrant against him,” she stated to Telemundo 51.
As is standard in incidents involving police shootings, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has taken over the investigation.
Insights into the Miami-Dade Police Shooting
What triggered the SWAT operation in Miami-Dade?
The SWAT operation was initiated as part of an investigation into alleged child pornography activities.
Who was involved in the Miami-Dade shooting incident?
The incident involved a Cuban family, with one member killed and another arrested during the operation by the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office.
Is there evidence of the police entering the wrong house?
Sheriff Cordero-Stutz stated there is no evidence to suggest the police entered the wrong house, asserting that the individual in custody was the target of the search warrant.