Miami‑Dade deputy found not at fault in Walmart shooting death
A deputy of the Miami‑Dade Sheriff’s Office was determined to have acted within the bounds of law after fatally shooting a shoplifting suspect outside a Walmart in the Goulds area. The incident took place on November 6, 2025, near Southwest 211th Street and South Dixie Highway. Deputy Wilfredo Ortega was on patrol when he received a call at about 7:15 a.m. that a customer had been shoplifting.
The suspect, 36‑year‑old Kennedy Graham, fled from the deputy and the two became engaged in a physical confrontation outside the store. Surveillance footage captured Graham dropping a handgun during the struggle, after which he re‑grabbed the weapon and continued running away. Ortega fired, striking Graham.
Ortega administered first aid until Miami‑Dade Fire Rescue crews arrived. Paramedics transported Graham to a hospital, where he later died. A memo from the Miami‑Dade State Attorney’s Office concluded that the deputy’s use of force was legally justified. Sheriff Rosie Cordero‑Stutz confirmed that Graham had a significant criminal record. No further legal action has been announced.