DAVIE, Fla. — Aileen Martinez was full of song, dreams and laughter. On Tuesday afternoon, in the parking lot just outside the Aveda Institute South Florida, those dreams were cut short in a violent moment that left her dead and her community shaken.
Shortly after 2 p.m. on January 27, police and emergency crews rushed to the 4100 block of South University Drive after reports of gunfire near the cosmetology school where Martinez was studying. Witnesses inside nearby buildings described sudden chaos as shots rang out and students and clients spilled onto sidewalks, hands raised, searching for safety.
Davie Police later confirmed Martinez, 20, of North Miami, was killed in what authorities are describing as an apparent murder-suicide. The suspected shooter, a 25-year-old man who police said had previously been in a relationship with Martinez, turned a gun on himself at the scene and later died from his injuries. There is no ongoing danger to the public, police added.
Family members identified Martinez in a press statement Thursday, describing a bright spirit whose love for life was infectious. She was pursuing cosmetology at Aveda and, for four years, had also studied music in Miami, performing with local bands at community events. Her parents say she lived life with joy and passion, and they are devastated by the sudden loss.
“She celebrated life to the fullest while she was with us,” her parents wrote, “and we find comfort in believing she is now at peace.” In the same statement, they condemned the violence and stalking that they say led to her death, urging that nobody should have to live in fear for choosing to walk away from a relationship.
The shooting triggered a heavy police response, with University Drive temporarily closed and nearby schools including St. David Catholic School and Know-It-All Preparatory placed on lockdown as officers secured the scene and evacuated those inside. Multiple 911 calls reveal frantic pleas for help as gunshots were fired.
Friends, classmates and community members have been left grief-stricken. A GoFundMe set up to support Martinez’s family shows an outpouring of support, with donations helping cover funeral and burial expenses as loved ones honor her memory. Her parents, brother and sister survive her, holding tight to memories of her warmth and energy.
In the aftermath, investigators continue piecing together the moments before the shooting, talking with witnesses and gathering evidence. For now, the focus remains on mourning a young life that touched many and on supporting those left behind in this small Broward community.
