Police in Miami have arrested a man on two counts of first-degree murder after he allegedly shot and killed his girlfriend's two brothers inside her apartment. The brothers had rushed over to protect her from him, authorities said.
Incident Details
Gianni Pierre, 28, and his younger brother Jaheim, 23, were fatally shot by Antwan Carter, 31, around noon on Saturday. According to the Miami Herald, a scuffle broke out in the apartment before the shooting.
The brothers' sister had been dating Carter for about four years, but they were concerned about the relationship. They went to her apartment to 'look after her' because of a 'history of previous domestic violence,' police stated in their arrest report.
Sequence of Events
Jaheim and his sister argued, and then Jaheim struck Carter, who had interjected. The three men then became involved in a fight. Carter is accused of leaving the apartment, going to his car, and returning with an item from the vehicle.
'I bet one of you won't open up,' he shouted, according to police. He was armed with a Glock 9mm handgun and shot Gianni, who was sitting on a couch. Gianni died minutes after arriving at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Jaheim charged toward his sister after being shot, and she was left covered in blood. He was found bleeding in the closet, WPLG reported.
Arrest and Charges
Carter was arrested after telling an officer, 'I am the one; I have the firearm.' He claimed the brothers had 'squared up with both fists in the air ready to fight again' before he opened fire. He said he left the apartment to get 'air' and went to his car to retrieve his wallet and keys.
The woman told police that Carter blamed her for the tragedy, saying, 'See what you made me do.' Officers searched the apartment and found several spent casings and projectiles.
Witness Account
Gina Kirk, a neighbor, was woken by the gunfire. 'I woke from a dead sleep – five gunshots, pow, pow, pow, pow, pow – and then the door slammed underneath my balcony,' she told CBS News.
Carter has been charged with first-degree murder, a capital felony punishable by the death penalty in Florida. He appeared in court on Monday wearing a sleeveless green vest and has pleaded not guilty.
