According to MPD spokesperson Michael Vega, several officers discharged their firearms and the armed man was killed — along with a woman, who has been identified as 28-year-old Evelyn Valdes, an innocent bystander reportedly caught in the crossfire. Vega said a third person, a man, was injured in the shooting but is expected to recover.
A witness who spoke with Local 10 described hearing "like, four gunshots" before watching a man collapse.
"He almost, like, recoiled to the floor," the woman said.
Evelyn Valdes had reportedly celebrated her 28th birthday just days before she was killed.
Screenshot via GoFundMe
Police have yet to publicly identify the man who died, and it remains unclear who fired the bullets that struck him, Valdes, or the other injured man. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is investigating the shooting, as is standard practice.
"At the request of the City of Miami Police Department, FDLE is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred near NW 1st Court and 23rd Street in Miami on Saturday," an FDLE spokesperson wrote in an email to New Times. "Our investigation is active. We are not releasing additional information at this time."
Vega did not respond to New Times' request for comment about the incident.
In a statement sent to New Times, Valdes' family said she was killed by stray gunfire while celebrating her 28th birthday in Wynwood.
"Our family is overwhelmed with heartbreak, grief, anger, and countless unanswered questions," the statement reads. "The details surrounding that fateful night remain sparse, leaving us desperate for truth and accountability to honor Evelyn's memory."
Her family described her as a "radiant soul" who was affectionately known as "Titi Evelyn" to the children in her life and "Nana" to her relatives. According to the statement, she was the first in her family to graduate high school from MAST Academy in Homestead and the first to earn an associate's degree from Miami-Dade College. She later received both a bachelor's and a master's degree in social work from Barry University.
"After graduation, Evelyn dedicated herself to a nonprofit advocating tirelessly for children who were victims of abuse or neglect," the statement reads. "Evelyn was more than a daughter–she was a cherished sister, aunt, granddaughter, friend, role model, and beacon of hope."
Her mother appears to have set up a GoFundMe to raise money for her funeral expenses. As of Tuesday afternoon, the fundraiser has brought in more than $17,500.
This was the second shooting in Wynwood this past week. On Thursday, a home-invasion robbery left two men shot and a third injured. It's unclear whether any arrests have been made.
This is a breaking story and will be updated as events warrant.
