MIAMI, Fla. – A fire erupted Monday morning at a four-story apartment building in the city of Miami, and a worker was found shot on the third floor of the building, authorities confirmed.
News 6 partner WPLG says the person who shot the worker is in custody and is believed to have started the fire as well, according to police. They have not been identified yet.
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Sky 10 above the building, located at 431 NW Third St., around 9 a.m. as heavy smoke was coming from the building.
City of Miami Fire-Rescue Lt. Pete Sanchez confirmed that there were “multiple patients.”
According to first responders, the call came in around 8:15 a.m. as an explosion and there are many elderly people who live at the apartment building. Upwards of 40 people had to be rescued.
“This is a three-alarm fire. We haven’t had one in 25 years, and so this is something that is obviously a large event for us and they’re doing a heroic job in dealing with it, including rescuing residents throughout this incident,” City of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said during a press conference.
Suarez said more than 40 units responded to the scene.
When crews arrived, they found a man who had been shot in the abdomen on the third floor.
The victim was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition.
In a statement posted to social media, the Atlantic Housing Foundation, which manages the complex, said the man shot was an employee.
The statement said the nonprofit is “shocked and saddened” by what happened.
“We are grieved by all that has happened today, and our thoughts and prayers are with our team member and his family and residents of the Temple Court community,” the statement read.
In addition to the shooting victim, a resident had to be hospitalized due to smoke inhalation and three firefighters were transported to a hospital due to heat exhaustion. Two were later released.
Residents were moved to Lummus Park across the street as firefighters continued to battle the flames. They have since been moved to Jose Marti Park, where they will be given food and other essentials.
The mayor confirmed the American Red Cross is coordinating housing and medication and the mayor’s office is handling the food for residents.
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