Suspected Shooter Arrested In Española Way Murder

MIAMI BEACH, FL — Police have arrested the man who allegedly fired two fatal shots into the upper body of 29-year-0ld Kamil Patel as he was walking with his girlfriend along tourist favorite Española Way on Jan. 25. Tyrone Jackson was taken into custody on Friday afternoon and charged with first-degree murder along with a weapons offense. Earlier this week, police also arrested the alleged driver of the stolen Honda Accord that was used in the attack.

Patel was gunned down at 11:41 p.m. in an alleyway of the 1400 block of Collins Court as he walked with girlfriend Katy Park, who was visiting from Texas. The Honda was located in Miami on Jan. 30 with Jeremiah Grant Dorvilus inside the vehicle. He admitted to having been in possession of the Honda for several days.

Ernesto Rodriguez of the Miami Beach Police Department told Patch that investigators interviewed the 32-year-old Jackson earlier in the investigation but did not have sufficient evidence to charge him at that time. Rodriguez said that Jackson's limp from an earlier AK-47 gunshot wound played a role in his arrest.

"Jackson’s limp is a distinct identifier," Rodriguez explained. "A tip was received this afternoon which led us to his exact location."

The reward has grown to $25,000 in recent weeks for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for Patel's murder. Patel recently moved to Miami Beach from Texas.

His employer, Prada, added $5,000 to the reward pool while Miami Beach Police said they would contribute another $5,000 in addition to $3,000 from Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers. Patel's family also added to the reward.

According to court documents, Jackson was allegedly riding in the passenger seat of the stolen White Honda Accord. His co-defendant, Jeremiah Dorvilus, was allegedly behind the wheel when they invited a third man identified only as "Shaw" to go for a ride with them before driving to Miami Beach.

At first, the three men drove along Ocean Drive and then turned west on 14 Street. As they approached the alleyway along Española Way, it was Dorvilus who spotted Patel and his girlfriend. He allegedly pulled in front of them, forcing them to walk around the car.

Jackson allegedly reached under his seat and pulled out a small, dark handgun while Dorvilus was armed with a similar weapon, according to court documents.

"As they attempted to walk around the vehicle, the front right passenger exited the vehicle armed with a handgun, approached them and made a comment to them," court documents said. "The passenger then fired two gunshots, striking the victim two times in the upper torso. The passenger then reentered the vehicle and the vehicle fled away."

Major Paul Acosta of the Miami Beach Police Department said his officers worked around the clock to find Patel's killers.

"Can't explain how proud I am of our entire Criminal Investigations Division," Acosta said on social media.

Patel recently moved to Miami Beach from Texas but police have not yet released a possible motive for the slaying. Patel was an American of Pakistani descent.

"Unfortunately, there is no known motive," Rodriguez told Patch. "Detectives were able to speak with the victim’s family and provide them with this closure."

Patel's girlfriend, who was visiting Patel from Dallas at the time of the slaying, told Local 10 News that her boyfriend was worried about her safety even after he was shot by the gunman.

"His last words were still trying to protect me: 'Katy keep walking,'" the woman recalled Patel saying after being shot. She said that she and Patel were headed to a karaoke bar at the time. The shooting occurred near the Kill Your Idol bar, which was holding a karaoke night.

Patel was taken to the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Photo courtesy Miami Beach Police Department