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Homeowner Shoots Burglary Suspect In NW Dade

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Police cordoned off a section of a street in northwest Miami-Dade early Thursday morning as they investigated a deadly shooting.

Neighbors in the 1800 block of NW 121st Street told CBS4's Summer Knowles around 5 a.m. they heard a car alarm go off. Shortly after the alarm went off, there were three or four gunshots.

"It was like 'pow, pow, pow' and then a final one, 'pow'," said Willie Johnson.

Miami-Dade police said Dennis Law, who lives at 1815 NW 121st Street, shot 31-year old Ernest Holdman who tried to break into a trailer on Law's property.   Holdman died on the scene.

"It was quite a shock when I turned the corner here," said Frank Hall who came home to find crime scene tape around his house and police cars parked out front.

Others weren't so alarmed.

"I was heading to the bathroom and I heard the shots. I didn't look out or anything I just heard the shots and went back to bed," said James White, "Gunshots around here are common, they are shooting around here all the time."

While the shooting was traffic, Hall said he can sympathize with his neighbor.

"Well you have to suffer the consequences I guess. You have to suffer the consequences. I find it unnerving because you work hard for the things, you've achieved and folks just want to come and take what you've worked so hard for," said Hall.

Hall added that there have have been a number of car burglaries in the area recently.

"My neighbor recently, they just removed her tires, all four tires one morning. When they woke up, the car was on blocks," said Hall. "It's just come to that. It's such a dangerous world these days and folks are just, I don't know what's causing it, but it's happening quite frequently."

Police have not said if any charges will be filed against Law.

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