Wounded man is jailed. Shooter at Hialeah UPS site was justified, cops say

A 21-year-old man was jailed following a shooting outside a UPS facility in Hialeah early Thursday morning after police said a workplace altercation turned violent.

According to the Hialeah Police Department, officers responded around 3:30 a.m. to reports of a shooting outside the UPS Hub Hialeah at 969 East 56th Street. When officers arrived, they found Anthony Ernest, 21, hiding inside a vehicle in the parking lot with a gunshot wound to the leg. He was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center by Hialeah Fire Rescue.

Investigators say the incident began as a dispute between two groups of UPS employees leaving their shifts. The confrontation escalated into a physical fight outside the facility. During the altercation, a man involved threatened to summon his friend Ernest, who had a gun, from a nearby car.

Another man involved in the fight was being picked up by family members and ran to their car. Moments later, Ernest approached the car with his hand inside a bookbag that contained a firearm. Fearing for their safety, the man’s brother, who was inside the car, fired in self-defense, striking Ernest before he could draw his gun, according to police.

Police say Ernest attempted to hide the bookbag and weapon before taking cover in his car, where police later found him.

After interviewing several witnesses at the scene, investigators concluded that the shooting was an act of self-defense. Ernest was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a firearm. Jail records show Ernest was in custody at the Miami-Dade County Pre-Trial Detention Center as of Friday afternoon and had a $5,000 bond.

The scene remained active for several hours as officers processed evidence and detained multiple individuals who attempted to flee the area.

This story may be updated as more details become available.

This story was originally published June 26, 2025 at 9:36 AM.