Miami

Alleged Gunman in 1990 Murder of Miami Restaurant Owner Arrested: Cops

Alexis Avila, 49, was arrested Wednesday in Panama City on first-degree murder and armed robbery charges

Nearly 30 years after a Miami restaurant owner was shot to death during a robbery outside his eatery, authorities have arrested a man they believe was the gunman.

Alexis Avila, 49, was arrested Wednesday in Panama City on first-degree murder and armed robbery charges in the March 2, 1990 murder of 47-year-old Lucio Leon, according to an arrest warrant.

According to the warrant, Leon, who was the owner of Tuyo y Mio restaurant at 7124 Northwest 35th Avenue, was ambushed outside the restaurant by several suspects who were robbing him. Leon would cash checks for customers and area merchants on payday Fridays and had just withdrawn a large amount of money from a bank for that purpose, the warrant said.

During the robbery, Leon, who was shot multiple times, was able to return fire, wounding one of the suspects, the warrant said. Avila approached Leon and shot him multiple times at close range, then grabbed the money bag and the suspects fled the scene, the warrant said.

The getaway vehicle was discovered abandoned later that day and had multiple bullet holes throughout. There was also blood on the floorboard carpet, and a section of the carpet was kept for evidence.

In 2013, the Miami-Dade Police crime lab determined the DNA from the blood on the carpet matched Alexe Nodal, the warrant said. Nodal was arrested last year for his involvement in the robbery and killing of Leon, Miami-Dade Police said.

Along with confessing to his role in the killing, Nodal, now 50 years old, identified Avila as the man who planned the robbery and killed Leon, the warrant said. A witness to the crime also identified Avila as the person who shot and killed Leon, the warrant said.

Avila was extradited to Miami-Dade and booked into jail on Thursday, records showed. He was being held without bond Friday, and attorney information wasn't available.

Nodal was sentenced on a robbery charge in January and remains on probation until January 2029, according to Florida Department of Corrections records.

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