Matthew Perez

Equinox Gym Ex-Employee Shoots 2 in Coral Gables, Kills Self: Police

A former gym employee opened fire inside the facility on Saturday, critically wounding a manager and another person before he killed himself, officials said.

The manager later died at a hospital after the shooting at the Equinox gym, a law enforcement official who was brief on the investigation told The Associated Press. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information.

The shoot happened at the Equinox gym at the Village of Merrick Park in Coral Gables at about 1 p.m. Saturday, police sources said.

Miami-Dade police said the second victim was in critical condition at a hospital.

"It appears to be an ex-employee, managerial dispute that triggered this shooting," Miami-Dade Police Detective Alvaro Zabaleta said.

Former Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff identified the shooter as Abeku Wilson and the two victims as Janine Ackerman and Mario Hortis. Ackerman was a manager at the gym and Hortis was a trainer.

Sarnoff said he was shocked and described Wilson as a "very nice guy." He said Wilson was a trainer and the gym and had trained him and his wife.

Former Miami baseball standout Javy Rodriguez said he was inside the gym and working out when the shots started, writing on Facebook that he ran to safety. He also helped others get out of the building.

"Equinox workers did an amazing job of calmly ... getting the rest out of there," Rodriguez said.

More than a dozen police cars and firetrucks were outside the mall for hours after the shooting. Employees of other stores and restaurants were seen leaving about an hour after the shooting, once the scene was secure.

Equinox said in a statement that is was working with authorities.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families impacted by this terrible tragedy. Out of respect for them and our entire Equinox family, we will refrain from commenting further until it is appropriate to do so," the statement said.

Check for updates on this developing story.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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