A deadly shooting inside the Mira Verde Apartments in Port LaBelle has led to a homicide charge against 27-year-old Jose Armando Cruz after authorities say an argument between two men ended in gunfire Monday night. The incident has left one man dead and an entire community searching for answers.
Deputies with the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office responded to the apartment complex after receiving reports of a disturbance around 7:45 p.m. Once inside the apartment, deputies discovered 28-year-old Rene Esau Lopez Callejas suffering from a gunshot wound in the hallway. Emergency responders arrived quickly, but Callejas was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators said Cruz was found standing outside the apartment shortly after deputies arrived. Authorities say he surrendered immediately without incident. Detectives later executed a search warrant inside the apartment and recovered a firearm believed to belong to Cruz.
According to investigators, the shooting happened after a verbal dispute between Cruz and Callejas escalated into violence. Officials have not released details about what triggered the confrontation, but detectives continue examining evidence and interviewing witnesses as the investigation moves forward.
The deadly encounter stunned residents living around the Mira Verde Apartments, where many described the area as normally quiet. Neighbors watched as patrol vehicles and investigators crowded the complex late into the evening while crime scene teams worked under bright lights collecting evidence.
As the investigation unfolds, attention has also turned toward the devastating impact left behind. Family members and friends of Callejas are mourning the sudden loss of a young man whose death came without warning. The emotional damage from the shooting now stretches far beyond the apartment where it happened.
Cruz has since been booked into the Hendry County Jail on a homicide charge. Authorities confirmed he is currently being held without bond while detectives continue building the case surrounding the fatal shooting.
The tragedy has left Port LaBelle residents shaken, with many hoping investigators can provide clearer answers in the days ahead. For now, one family is planning a funeral, another man sits behind bars, and a community remains haunted by a violent moment that changed several lives forever.
