No one likes waiting in the grocery store checkout line, but an argument escalated quickly at a South Florida store, turning deadly for one shopper.
The two men involved in the fight were standing in the checkout line of a Publix when they started arguing on Saturday evening in the Coral Gables neighborhood, which is known for being upscale with Mediterranean-style mansions. It is also the home to the University of Miami.
Surveillance footage of the incident showed the shooter, identified by police as Osmel Lugo-Gutierrez, approaching the man who was shot, identified as Jose Pineyro, while he was trying to buy lottery tickets.
While the argument started with words, it escalated quickly as the two stepped towards one another. According to a police affidavit acquired by the Miami Herald, Pineyro “lunged towards [Lugo-Gutierrez] with an extended left arm and open left palm” but lost his balance and stumbled to his left.
Pineyro regained his balance, and Lugo-Gutierrez stepped back, and after Pineyro stepped at him again, Lugo-Gutierrez brought the fight to the next level.
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The affidavit reported that Lugo-Gutierrez pulled out a 9mm Glock 19 pistol from his front waistband and shot Pineyro in the chest.
According to the Miami Herald, Pineyro was pronounced dead, and Lugo-Gutierrez was taken into police custody.
While in custody, Lugo-Gutierrez admitted to the Miami-Dade police that Pineyro was not armed during the incident.
On Monday, Lugo-Gutierrez, 51, was ordered by a Miami-Dade judge to be held without bail after he was charged with second-degree murder.
During his Monday hearing, Lugo-Gutierrez and his attorney did not speak.
A spokesperson for Publix, Maria Brous, shared with the Herald that “Our thoughts are with those who are impacted by this tragedy” and that counseling was available to store employees who needed it.
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