Man acted in self-defense when he shot robber inside Miami Gardens house: police
.jpg "A resident opened fire on a man who was one of four men who entered his Miami Gardens home Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in what police say was likely a home invasion. The wounded man, Ezekiel Leatherwood, has been arrested on attempted murder and home invasion charges.")
A man who shot an intruder as he entered his home armed with a semi-automatic rifle Monday morning acted in self-defense, Miami Gardens police concluded.
And the man shot is now in jail facing attempted murder and home invasion charges, per his arrest report.
Around 11:40 p.m., Miami Gardens police say 18-year-old Ezekiel Manthon Leatherwood and three other men walked up to a woman sitting in her car in front of a house, at the 3000 block of NW 204th Terrace. They were armed, wearing masks and all-black clothing.
They demanded money from the woman and then forced her to let them inside the house, according to the report. A man in the house, who police did not name in Leatherwood’s arrest report, heard the woman scream and grabbed his gun, the report states.
Leatherwood kicked in the bedroom door armed with what police say was an AR-15-style rifle. When the door opened, the man, who is the woman’s boyfriend, opened fire, hitting Leatherwood in the arm, the report reads.
The other three men ran out of the house. The man held Leatherwood at gunpoint until police arrived. Before cops got there, the other men, who were near the front door, yelled at the man, demanding that he let Leatherwood go.
In response, police said the man fired shots at the men, who got into a car and drove off.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue paramedics took Leatherwood to HCA Florida Aventura Hospital to be treated for the gunshot wound. Police eventually arrested and booked him into Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Police said in their report that Leatherwood made an admission, but his statements were redacted.
As of Tuesday, a judge had not set bond on the charges.
