Miami-Dade couple identified after fatal dispute in senior housing complex
Authorities confirmed the identities of the two victims found dead in the northeast neighborhood, where a recent separation reportedly preceded the shooting.
By Matthew Qureshi ·
The Miami-Dade Police Department and the Sheriff's Office have identified the two individuals who died in a shooting at a senior living complex in the northeast part of Miami-Dade on Wednesday evening. The incident, described by officials as a homicide-suicide, involved Franky Paba, 64, and Denis Del Carmen Polo Fuentes, 57. Agents responded to the scene near the intersection of 14th Avenue and 171st Street shortly after 7 p.m. and found both victims dead inside a residential unit.
Investigators determined that Fuentes had entered the apartment to retrieve personal belongings. According to the Sheriff's Office, Paba allowed her to enter and then produced a firearm. The officer present at the scene stated that Paba began firing at Fuentes and subsequently shot himself. The timing of the visit aligns with reports that Fuentes had recently moved out of the unit after a period of separation.
Yolima Paba, who identified herself as the victim's sister, said the couple had been separated for approximately two months. She described the relationship as difficult during that time. “Algo fuerte porque no esperaba esto y la verdad que ellos tenían dos meses separados, pero no pensé que iba a ser tan trágico este desenlace,” she said. She noted that the family was still processing the news of the sudden end to a long-standing partnership.
A neighbor who knew the residents provided context on the timeline leading up to the shooting. The neighbor explained that Paba had traveled to Colombia when his mother was hospitalized for an extended period. During his absence, the relationship dissolved, prompting Fuentes to decide to leave the apartment. The neighbor confirmed that Fuentes had lived in the unit for years before her recent departure.
Authorities have not officially confirmed the romantic relationship between the two victims, but the statements from family and neighbors suggest they were a couple. The complex is dedicated to residents aged 55 and older, a detail that underscores the specific demographic affected by the tragedy in this noreast sector of Miami-Dade. No other residents were injured in the incident.
The case remains under investigation by the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office. Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing additional neighbors to reconstruct the final hours of the victims. The identification of the victims marks the next step in the official process, moving the case from an active crime scene investigation to a post-mortem and family notification phase.
The apartment complex has been secured by police tape while forensics teams complete their work. Neighbors are returning to their units as the initial chaos subsides. The sheriff's office is expected to release a detailed timeline of events in the coming days, focusing on the sequence of the entry and the exchange of fire.
