Shooting Shuts Down I-95, Leaves Miami in Morning-Commute Chaos

Were you hoping to get to work this morning? Or perhaps you had a busy day at school ahead of you that you planned to attend? Maybe a flight to catch at MIA? Sorry, folks. It's probably not going to happen today. Details are still scarce, but an early-morning shooting...

By Tim Elfrink

November 16, 2015

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Update 1:20 p.m.: A Miami PD spokesperson says police expect "at least another hour delay" before reopening lanes on I-95.

Update 2:50 p.m.: I-95 is finally reopened, according to FDOT:

CLEARED: Police activity in Miami-Dade on I-95 south at Exit 8A NW 95 St/Rev Dr. A. Jackson Jr. Blvd and traffic backed up until NE 203 ...
— FL511 I-95 (@fl511_i95) November 16, 2015

Were you hoping to get to work this morning? Or did you have a busy day at school ahead of you? Maybe a flight to catch at MIA?

Sorry, folks. It probably won't happen today. Details are still scarce, but an early-morning shooting in the middle of I-95 has shut down all southbound lanes near the 95th Street exit. The result: unmitigated morning-commute chaos.

According to details released by the Florida Highway Patrol, the shooting happened around 4:30 this morning, when gunfire erupted between two cars heading southbound. At least one man was killed — aerial shots from news helicopters showed a tarp covering a body in the driver's seat of one car stopped in the middle of the interstate.

CBS4 identifies the man as 23-year-old Nathaniel Peterson. At least two others have been taken to the hospital as a result of the shootout.

An FHP spokesperson tells New Times that Miami-Dade Police have taken over the investigation; an MDPD spokesperson says officers are en route to the scene but "with traffic, it's going to take a while to get there and sort it out."

Twitter is aflame with all manner of traveling horror stories in the wake of the shootout.

Only in Miami are you told your flight is delayed because "a crew member is stuck in traffic."
— Alicia Menendez (@AliciaMenendez) November 16, 2015

Miami is a shot show today. Traffic everywhere.
— daiana. (@missdaiana) November 16, 2015

Going on hour 4 of being stuck in traffic. Miami you're so cool.
— Student-Dr. Feelgood (@Tworek810) November 16, 2015

Holy fcking traffic, Miami.
— Jaylan (@heyitsjaylan) November 16, 2015

No matter what street you take. If you heading south in Miami, you gone be in traffic.
— Mr. WiLL ThroW It. (@ysl_wil) November 16, 2015

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Tim Elfrink is a former investigative reporter and managing editor for Miami New Times. He has won the George Polk Award and was a finalist for the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting.

Contact: Tim Elfrink

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Twitter: @timelfrinkmia