A 49-year-old Cuban man, who was under a final deportation order since 2002, has been apprehended in Miami-Dade on charges of fatally shooting a man in a dispute allegedly fueled by jealousy.
William Serrano Domenech is facing charges of second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon for the death of Raúl Aballe, which occurred on August 17. This information was confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Tuesday.
Details of the Fatal Incident
The shooting took place around 5:38 p.m. in the northwest 38th Street area of Brownsville. Authorities report that Serrano Domenech repeatedly struck Aballe during an argument, then pulled out a gun and shot him in the abdomen before fleeing the scene.
The victim was transported to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office arrested the suspect in the early hours of August 20. According to investigators, Serrano Domenech confessed to the shooting, citing jealousy over Aballe's relationship with someone present as the motive for the confrontation.
A friend of the victim who witnessed the altercation and tried to intervene told NBC6 that tensions had already existed between the two men. "Please, we need to find this killer, and gun violence must stop," she declared before learning of the arrest.
Immigration Complications
The case took on an immigration dimension after the DHS revealed that a judge had ordered Serrano Domenech's deportation on February 20, 2002.
Despite this order, the Cuban remained in the United States. ICE detained him again in December 2023, but he was later released during the Biden administration, according to DHS reports.
Following his recent arrest, ICE filed a detainer request with the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center to ensure the suspect would be handed over to immigration authorities if cleared for release from criminal custody.
Serrano Domenech claims he entered the United States through Florida in August 1995, having spent over three decades in the country.
A Long Criminal Record
According to the DHS, the accused has a history of offenses and arrests across Florida, Michigan, New Mexico, and Tennessee.
In Florida, he has a weapons-related conviction and arrests for vehicle theft and burglary. In Michigan, he was convicted of drug-related crimes, including cocaine distribution and possession of firearms during a drug offense.
He was also arrested in New Mexico for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and bribing a witness, while in Tennessee, he has a record for illegal firearm possession and resisting arrest.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin directly blamed the Biden administration for releasing the Cuban in 2023. "This dangerous criminal should never have been in our country, and if not for the Biden administration releasing him from ICE custody in 2023, Raúl Aballe would be alive," he stated.
Mullin added that ICE would work with Florida authorities to ensure Serrano Domenech "never returns to the streets."
The Cuban faces charges of second-degree murder and illegal possession of a firearm, which will now be addressed in judicial proceedings.
His arrest comes amid heightened immigration operations in southern Florida. Between August 2025 and August 23, 2026, 131 out of the 451 people arrested by ICE in Miami under local collaboration agreements were Cuban, making them the nationality with the highest number of detentions during that period.
Key Questions about the Case
Why was William Serrano Domenech in the U.S. despite a deportation order?
Despite a deportation order issued in 2002, Serrano Domenech remained in the U.S. and was detained again in 2023, but released during the Biden administration's tenure.
What are the charges against Serrano Domenech?
He is charged with second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon related to the death of Raúl Aballe.
What actions is ICE taking following his arrest?
ICE has filed a detainer request to ensure that if Serrano Domenech is released from criminal custody, he will be transferred to immigration authorities.