Lamont Ferguson, 49, was found murdered inside a northeast Miami home on Sunday, September 10, 2023. The property on Northeast 77th Street near 5th Avenue had reportedly been taken over by squatters; the owner, Maria Escandell, said squatters had broken in, changed the locks, and occupied the house. Escandell had reported the break-in and was told by police to stay away while investigators worked.

Police arrested 45-year-old Larry March after the body was discovered. He was stopped during a routine traffic stop in Doral and officers found suspected cocaine cookies, a firearm, and a machete in his vehicle. While in custody, March’s girlfriend told investigators she had been at the squatter-occupied home the day Ferguson was killed and said she saw March shoot Ferguson four to five times before they fled. She also reported being kidnapped and beaten by March earlier the same day, then escaping hours before the traffic stop. Ballistics testing linked the firearm recovered from March’s vehicle to Ferguson’s killing. March was charged with second-degree murder, kidnapping, battery, and cocaine possession and was denied bond.

If anyone knew Lamont Ferguson, the squatter situation at that property, or saw anything in the area on September 10, 2023, please come forward with information.