Crime

Doral math teacher killed in triple shooting by husband, who took his own life, cops say

Maria Cruz de la Cruz
Maria Cruz de la Cruz Crime Stoppers of Miami-Dade & the Florida Keys

A math teacher was killed at a South Miami-Dade home Friday by a gunman who took his own life, Miami-Dade police say.

Tuesday, Miami-Dade police confirmed that the gunman in the triple shooting was the husband of Maria Cruz de la Cruz, a teacher at Doral Academy K-8 Charter.

Maria Cruz was a math teacher at Doral Academy K-8 Charter.
Maria Cruz was a math teacher at Doral Academy K-8 Charter. Doral Academy K-8 Charter

After a 4:20 p.m. call brought police to a Palmetto Estates home in the 9900 block of Southwest 165th Terrace, they found a man who had shot himself in the head. A gun was on the ground next to him.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue took Cruz and a man who survived the shooting to Jackson South Medical Center while police began investigating the tragedy as a murder-suicide.

A GoFundMe set up by the school says Cruz also is a mother of two daughters.

If you or someone you know is thinking about self harm, call the toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255). It’s available 24/7.

This story was originally published September 3, 2023 at 10:57 AM.

David J. Neal
Miami Herald
Since 1989, David J. Neal’s domain at the Miami Herald has expanded to include writing about Panthers (NHL and FIU), Dolphins, old school animation, food safety, fraud, naughty lawyers, bad doctors and all manner of breaking news. He drinks coladas whole. He does not work Indianapolis 500 Race Day.
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