How Police Tracked Down Suspect in Temple Court Fire, Shooting

Shortly before flames swallowed Temple Court Apartments in Miami on June 10, a resident of the building heard a series of loud blasts. He exited his apartment and found maintenance worker Feder Biotte lying on the first floor of the building, bleeding from a gunshot wound to his abdomen, according to police.

The resident tried to provide first aid to Biotte, who uttered in Spanish, "307, the one from 307," police say.

Investigators say that Biotte was referring to Temple Court resident Juan Francisco Figueroa, the man who allegedly shot him and left him to die on the floor. Detectives tracked down Figueroa, 73, later that day and arrested him on charges of attempted murder, displaying a firearm while committing a felony, and first-degree arson.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez described the fire as the city's first three-alarm fire in 25 years. More than 125 firefighters responded to the scene as smoke billowed across the city Monday morning. Elderly residents were rescued from their balconies, and at least one person was hospitalized for smoke inhalation.

Dozens of residents were displaced and scrambled for shelter after a large portion of the Temple Court apartment complex was left charred.

Biotte remained hospitalized with severe injuries on June 11. Suarez said city officials believe all of the residents who were in the building when the fire broke out have been accounted for.

An arrest affidavit obtained by New Times states that shortly after interviewing witnesses, police identified Figueroa as the resident of the 307 unit at Temple Court and found that he was the owner of a 2008 maroon Honda Accord. At around 1:45 p.m., five hours after the fire started, investigators spotted the vehicle in Miami and set up surveillance in the area.

Figueroa later arrived and drove away in the vehicle, at which point officers stopped and arrested him. A black, wooden-handle Smith & Wesson Model 36 was found in his pocket with five .38 special live rounds, police say.

In a photo lineup, the resident who rendered aid to Biotte confirmed Figueroa lived in unit 307, according to the affidavit.

The affidavit (attached below) does not describe Figueroa's alleged motive in the shooting and fire. He reportedly stated upon his detention that "he expected to be in prison the rest of his life."

Police say Figueroa's criminal record includes convictions for attempted murder and aggravated assault from the early 1990s.

On Monday, the Miami Fire Rescue Department was battling the fire deep into the afternoon after the flames spread through the wooden frame of the 100-year-old building. By nightfall, the fire had been extinguished.

Many residents spent the evening at a shelter in a park near Temple Court while the city worked to transition them to hotels for the next two weeks, until more permanent housing arrangements can be made, Suarez said.

"We have 43 people in Jose Marti Park and the property management company is renting a hotel," Suarez said the evening of June 10, noting that Temple Court was home to many older, Section 8 residents.

Figueroa made his first court appearance June 11 before Miami-Dade County Judge Mindy Glazer. The judge denied him bond on the attempted murder and arson charges.