An 11-year-old boy died Thursday after his father opened fire on his family and then took his own life.
The tragedy played out Wednesday night at Southwest 27th Avenue and 24th Street. Stefan Zuniga was mortally wounded and died, according to medical examiner records. His mother, Michelle Zuniga, 43, and 14-year-old sister, Lauren, are in critical condition at Jackson memorial Hospital.
The shooter, identified as Carlos Zuniga, 45, killed himself Wednesday night.
The Zunigas were married in 1998, according to state records. Neighbors said Carlos Zuniga also had two adult children from a previous marriage.
The Zunigas opened a hot air balloon company in 2005, according to state records, under the name Winds Aloft Aviation Inc. It was commonly known as Miami Balloon Rides.
In an interview with The Miami Herald in 2011, Michelle Zuniga said they began the company so she could spend more time with her family. The company has taken thousands of people on hot air balloon rides in South Florida.
Officers arrived at a home at 2610 SW 24th St. shortly after 9:30 p.m. Wednesday after a neighbor called 911. Another neighbor, who asked not to be identified, told The Miami Herald that he had heard four “pops.”
Neighbor Xavier Cal, who lives next to the Zuniga family, said he saw a woman collapse on the patio in front of her home Wednesday night.
“She was lying on the lawn,” he said. “Later I heard the last shot inside the house.”
"As officers arrived, screaming and possible gunshots were heard from inside the home," Miami police spokesman William Moreno said Thursday morning. "Officers quickly assembled a small team and made entry into the home to protect those in danger."
Moreno said the man was found dead on the scene but would not confirm that he was the shooter. He said police were not looking for a gunman.
Thursday morning, a team from the cleaning company Aftermath Services, LLC, arrived on the scene.
“We’ve never heard them fight. The police have never come to the house,” Cal said of the Zunigas. “I’m in shock.”
11-year-old dead, 2 others wounded in father’s shooting rampage
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11-year-old dead, 2 others wounded in father’s shooting rampage
