Miami Man Killed For Cellphone: Police

MIAMI, FL — Two men have been accused of killing a 25-year-old Miami man to get his cellphone three years ago in a flurry of gunfire, according to Miami police. Twenty-three-year-old Brandon Figueroa and 21-year-old Jonathan Rivera-Gunera, were each charged with first-degree murder in connection with the June 14, 2015 slaying of Schiharia Aila Sai Kiran.

"A man was outside the apartment building located at 1043 Southwest 6 Street, talking on his cellular phone," according to Officer Kenia Fallat of the Miami Police Department. "He was confronted by an unknown gunman who demanded his cellular phone."

In announcing the arrests Thursday, Fallat said that the victim was "deep in conversation and was surprised by the robber’s demands." The incident happened shortly before 2:30 a.m.

"The gunman began shooting at him, striking him multiple times," Fallat said, adding that the victim was taken by Miami Fire Rescue to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center in "extremely critical condition" but died shortly after arriving.

"The motive surrounding the circumstances appears to be robbery," Fallat said.

Court documents said that Figueroa confessed to the slaying.

"After the defendant confessed, he apologized and said that he didn't mean for any of this to happen," court documents noted.

Rivera-Gunera also admitted his role in the murder, according to court documents.

"The defendant stated that he drove the co-defendant to the incident location, told the co-defendant to get out and to do the robbery," court documents said of Rivera-Gunera. "The defendant stated that while he was inside of his vehicle waiting on the co-defendant to return, he heard four to five gunshots. The co-defendant ran back inside of his vehicle shortly afterwards. The defendant stated that he drove the co-defendant away from the scene knowing that the co-defendant had shot the victim."

To report a tip, contact the Miami Police Department’s Homicide Unit at 305-603-6350. Alternatively, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477), visit www.crimestoppersmiami.com and select “Give a Tip” or textt "CSMD" followed by the tip information to 274637.

Brandon Figueroa (left) and Jonathan Rivera-Gunera courtesy Miami-Dade Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation