Miami Beach police arrest 53-year-old after Meridian Avenue argument escalates into single gunshot outside apartment

Incident outside Meridian Avenue building led to attempted felony murder charge

Miami Beach police arrested a 53-year-old man after an argument outside an apartment building near the 500 block of Meridian Avenue escalated into gunfire during the weekend of Feb. 8–9, 2026. Jail records list the suspect as Alexander Dejesus Reyes, who faces one count of attempted felony murder with a firearm. As of the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 11, Reyes was being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

Officers responded Sunday, Feb. 9, after receiving reports of shots fired near Reyes’ apartment. No injuries were reported. Investigators recovered a spent 9mm casing and a projectile at the scene, and later recovered a firearm after obtaining a warrant.

Different accounts of what happened before the shot

Police documented conflicting narratives about what triggered the confrontation and who posed the initial threat. Reyes told officers he fired a single shot after another man pointed a gun at him and threatened to kill him.

The alleged victim told detectives a different version: that he was walking home when he saw Reyes arguing with a homeless woman outside the building. The victim said he intervened, telling Reyes to stop yelling at the woman. According to the report, the victim said Reyes went back toward his apartment and then returned, pointed a gun at him and fired one round.

Witness statements and video review central to the decision to arrest

A witness told detectives he was outside eating pizza with Reyes when the confrontation began. The witness described Reyes going back into his apartment and later returning to continue the confrontation. The witness reported hearing Reyes taunt the victim in Spanish, including a statement translated in the report as, “You don’t have the balls to shoot me,” before the shot was fired. The witness told investigators he did not see who fired the gun.

Police said they reviewed video from the property and concluded it corroborated key portions of the witness account and Reyes’ statements about leaving and returning to the scene. Investigators wrote that Reyes “showed no fear for his life” and that he intentionally returned to confront the victim before discharging the firearm.

Evidence recovery and medical transport

• One round was fired, police said, and Reyes later admitted to firing a shot.
• Investigators recovered a spent 9mm casing and a projectile.
• Police recovered the firearm after a warrant was executed; investigators reported Reyes placed the gun in his mailbox.
• Reyes was transported by Miami Beach Fire Rescue to Mount Sinai Medical Center for reported medical issues, including high blood pressure, before being booked.

Authorities did not disclose why Reyes and the victim were arguing.

The case remains in the court process, and the charge reflects investigators’ assessment of the events based on statements, physical evidence and video reviewed after the shooting.