David Fluitt, a 31-year-old African American male, was tragically killed on April 6, 2018, in Homestead, Florida. The incident occurred during a heated argument at a mobile home in Cocowalk Estates Homeowners, where Fluitt lived with his girlfriend, 35-year-old Deborah Ramos-Arce, and their children. The altercation escalated when Omar Dopico, a 19-year-old male who was dating Ramos-Arce's 17-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, intervened.
Dopico, who had a history of robbery and marijuana possession, claimed he was defending Ramos-Arce when Fluitt charged at him. In the ensuing confrontation, Dopico shot Fluitt and Ramos-Arce, leaving them both fatally wounded. Fluitt reportedly lifted his head and said, "Look what you did," before Dopico fired a final shot into his head.
The tragic event unfolded in the presence of four children, aged 1 to 10, and a teenage girl, all of whom were in the home at the time. Fluitt and Ramos-Arce were the parents of two of the children, while the other two were from Fluitt's previous relationship. The Florida Department of Children and Families took custody of the children following the incident. The home was also linked to drug trafficking, with police discovering 95 grams of marijuana and 34 pills of Xanax on the premises. Fluitt had a history of marijuana and cocaine trafficking dating back to 2005.
Omar Dopico was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, and possession of marijuana with the intent to sell, manufacture, and deliver. The investigation by the Miami-Dade Police Department was ongoing at the time, with detectives piecing together the events leading up to the fatal shootings. Dopico's actions were further complicated by a stay-away order that had been issued against him, prohibiting him from being near Fluitt. The case highlighted the complex dynamics of domestic violence and the tragic consequences that can arise from such volatile situations.
