Local News

MIAMI BEACH (CBS4) ― Some visitors on Miami Beach admit they are concerned about the violence that erupted across the street from the city's police station last weekend.

"I'm worried about myself and whether I as a tourist might become a victim of a sudden shooting like this," said Lori Feller, of Hobe Sound.

Feller was referring to the death of 29-year-old Husien Shehada who was reportedly gunned down by a Miami Beach police officer around 4 a.m. Sunday. His family says Shehada, who was visiting from Virginia, was not armed.

"I want some questions answered. How did this happen? Did the police officer have to fire his gun? Could there have been a better way to handle this," wondered Feller.

"I know there's a police investigation, but what's the justification for shooting that man?" asked Miami Beach resident Kimmy Swain.

For the first time, CBS4 News is hearing why the unidentified officer made the decision to fire his gun: Husien Shehada was reaching for something he was concealing after being told to show his hands.

According to police statements obtained by our news partner at The Miami Herald, Club Twist security guard Derek Reynolds says police officers "very clearly" ordered Husien and his brother to show their hands, but they did not. Reynolds further said Husien tried to reach "for something he was concealing" and that's when the officer opened fire. A second security guard at the club also told police the brothers failed to comply with the officers' order to surrender.

The Shehada's family attorney, John Contini, showed up at the crime scene Thursday afternoon, where he said Husien was "executed" after being surrounded by seven Miami Beach police officers. "He was walking down the street with his brother and he was surrounded by the seven officers who yelled at him to put his hands up," said Contini. "And they were cursing. We're outraged. Obviously it is not safe for people to come to South Beach because of the chance that they'll be executed, frankly. It was nothing but an execution. He had no gun."

Mike Lee, a tourist from Vancouver, stared at the blood stained spot on the sidewalk where Shehada collapsed after being shot.

"This violence is what concerns me. We rarely have something like this in Vancouver. Why did this have to happen," said Lee.

The shooting happened in front of the "Twist" nightclub at 11th St. and Washington Avenue. Police said they got a call about two men fitting the description of Husien and his brother Samir Shehada walking around near the club with guns.

A spokesman for "Twist" had no comment on the shooting.

"The Shehada brothers made the mistake of believing they were safe on the sidewalk of a popular South Beach street----not far from where Versace, the internationally renowned designer was murdered. But the real irony is the police presence might have contributed to their feelings of safety, at least up until the very same police opened fire, "said Contini.

Contini said the brothers were vacationing in South Florida with their girlfriends.

"Their dream vacation turned into a nightmare. Instead of being up front about their horrific mistake, the Miami Beach Police department appears to be engaging in a cover up," said Contini.

Meanwhile, video shot by a witness shows the hectic moments after the shooting. The video shows a crowd of people gathered outside the club watching as rescue crews tried to save Shehada. They pumped his chest feverishly, but it was too late.

"He did not deserve to die at 29-years-old," said Samir Shehada. "He doesn't even own a gun! We were vacationing, we were vacationing."

Samir was arrested the night his brother died after he was accused of hitting his girlfriend. According to CBS4 news partners The Miami Herald, Samir's girlfriend denies that she was struck by Samir. The Shehada family just can't understand how this all happened.

Miami Beach police have released little information on the incident, including the officer's name. They have said he has been placed on desk duty until an investigation has been concluded.

Samir Shehada says his final memories of his brother, a man who lived with their mom and supported her financially, is of him dying on the pavement.

"There was no hating him; there was no disliking Husien," said Samir, "You loved Husien that's how it is."

Miami Beach Police Department's Internal Affairs unit and the Miami-Dade State Attorney's office are investigating this shooting. A prominent Arab rights group, The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, has questioned whether the shooting was racially motivated. They say police asked witnesses whether Husein was "Arabic," or if he was speaking Arabic.

"We can't comment right now because of the ongoing investigation," said Miami Beach Police detective Juan Sanchez.

CBS4 has requested a copy of the police report and the identity of the officer involved in the shooting along with any 911 calls that may have been made from the area around the club that night.

(© MMIX CBS Television Stations. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald contributed material for this report)

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