MIAMI, FL – A 32-year-old Miami man faces second-degree murder charges after allegedly shooting a locksmith in the head during what began as a routine service call, according to police.
Luis Lemus was arrested following the fatal shooting of Adrian Venereo, 37, on Friday evening in the 6300 block of Southwest 8th Street. Miami Police responded to the shooting call at approximately 6:20 p.m.
Officers arriving at the scene found Venereo with an apparent gunshot wound to the head. Miami Fire Rescue pronounced the victim dead at the scene, police said.
According to the arrest report, a witness at the scene was holding a revolver when police arrived and told officers that Lemus had fled after saying he had hurt someone. The witness provided a description of Lemus and his clothing to investigators.
Police reviewed surveillance video from the area and identified Lemus based on his outfit and witness descriptions gathered during the investigation.
The witness told police that he and Lemus had been working to change the locks on Lemus’ front door when both men became locked out of the apartment. They called Venereo, described as a locksmith, to help with the situation.
During Venereo’s response to assist with the lockout, Lemus allegedly shot the locksmith in the head, according to the witness account provided to police.
Investigators transported Lemus to the Miami Police Homicide Office for questioning. The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy on Venereo’s body and officially ruled the death a homicide.
Following the investigation, Lemus was arrested on second-degree murder charges and transferred to Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in West Miami, where he awaits his bond hearing.
