Miami

Pair Charged in Miami Shootout Involving Canadian Diplomat's Sons Accept Plea Deals

Two men charged in connection with a bloody Miami shootout that left a Canadian diplomat's son dead and her other son behind bars accepted plea deals Thursday.

Anthony Rodriguez and Johan Ruiz Perez pleaded guilty to marijuana possession with intent to sell charges as part of the plea deal. Prosecutors dropped third-degree murder charges against both men.

Rodriguez and Perez were arrested in the March 30 shootout that killed Jean Wabafiyebazu and Joshua Wright. Wabafiyebazu's 15-year-old brother, Marc, faces felony murder and other charges in the shooting and has been charged as an adult.

The brothers are the sons of Roxanne Dube, Canada's consul general in Miami.

As part of the deal with prosecutors, Rodriguez and Perez will have to testify against Marc Wabafiyebazu. Both will have to attend boot camp and each will serve five years of probation. Perez will serve two years of house arrest while Rodriguez will serve one year of house arrest.

"He's going to serve time in a boot camp, he's going to come out and be on community control and probation for a total of five years," said Perez's attorney, Neil Taylor. "He'll ultimately be able to seal the record of arrest and return to the position he occupied as a young man the day before this incident happened."

Authorities say the Wabafiyebazu brothers hatched a plan to rob Wright, Rodriguez and Perez during a drug deal.

Marc Wabafiyebazu has pleaded not guilty and remains behind bars pending trial. His mother says she is convinced he is innocent.

His trial is expected to begin in November. Rodriguez and Perez will turn themselves in on Oct. 13 to begin serving their sentences.

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