Father of three killed, another man ‘fighting for his life’ in hospital after shooting in Little Haiti

MIAMI — Police are asking for the public’s help in finding the gunman responsible for a shooting in Little Haiti this weekend that left a father of three dead and another man “fighting for his life” in the hospital.

Just before 1 a.m. Friday, Miami police were called to two ShotSpotter alarms near Northeast 1st Avenue and 77th Street, where they found two men who had been shot. One of them, 35-year-old Robin Fernandez, died at the scene.

The second man, 32-year-old David Pichinte, was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital in critical condition.

Liz Ortiz, Pichinte’s wife, told CBS News Miami that her husband is “fighting for his life” as one of the bullets pierced his organs and their three children are suffering.

Surveillance video captured the sound of gunfire and the terrifying moments as several men ran from a gunman near the home. Fernandez, also a father of three, was killed by the suspect, who “appeared out of nowhere” as relatives were chatting outside their home, witness Marlon Castro said.

“He made a hand gesture indicating he was looking for alcohol, but we weren’t drinking and had no cash,” he said.

Then the shooter pulled out a gun.

“The gunman went crazy and started chasing us all over the building,” Castro told CBS News Miami. “Then he started shooting – Fernandez was shot six times.”

Castro, who is also Pichinte’s brother-in-law, told CBS News Miami that Pichinte tried to take the gun away from the shooter, but he fell and was shot on the ground.

Pichinte was taken to hospital where he remains critically injured.

“We don’t know anything about the shooter,” Castro told CBS News Miami, but described the shooter as a “young man.”

According to Fernandez’s relatives, he has two children in the United States and another in El Salvador, where they plan to send his body back. Both families demand justice.

Both men were said to have been construction workers and hard-working people who spent time with their loved ones.

Anyone with information is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).