Nearly five years after a beloved Miami business owner was tragically gunned down during a robbery outside his Little Havana store, authorities have finally made an arrest in the case. Edgar Olivas, 40, was taken into custody and booked into Miami-Dade’s Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on July 11, 2026, facing charges of first-degree murder and armed robbery in connection with the October 2021 killing of Walter Castañeda Sr.
The Tragic Night That Shook Little Havana
The fatal incident occurred on October 1, 2021, when 64-year-old Walter Castañeda Sr. was closing up his Boost Mobile store located at 443 Northwest 12th Avenue in the heart of Little Havana. According to court documents, Castañeda was in the process of pulling down the store’s security shutters when an armed gunman approached him from behind.
The suspect reportedly pointed a firearm at Castañeda’s back and demanded that he surrender everything, speaking in Spanish. The robber then forcibly took a black bag from the store owner before attempting to flee to a waiting getaway vehicle. What happened next turned a robbery into a deadly confrontation that would haunt the community for years.
Castañeda, refusing to be victimized without a fight, drew his own firearm and discharged several rounds at the fleeing suspect. The gunman returned fire, striking Castañeda in the abdomen before escaping in the vehicle. Police body camera footage and cellphone video captured officers arriving at the scene to find the wounded business owner lying on the ground outside his store. He was rushed to a local hospital but was later pronounced dead from his injuries.
Family Witnesses the Horrific Scene
Perhaps the most heartbreaking aspect of this tragedy is that Castañeda’s grandchildren were present during the shooting. Video evidence revealed that a baby and several other family members were waiting for him in a nearby car, just steps away when the gunfire erupted. The family later expressed concerns that police could have done more to save their loved one, though Miami Police maintained that officers followed protocol and rendered aid at the scene.
The investigation that followed was methodical and persistent. Detectives quickly tracked down the vehicle used in the getaway and discovered crucial information:
- The vehicle was reported stolen on October 3, 2021, two days after the shooting
- The car’s owner revealed he had rented it to a man and woman
- He reported it stolen only after the vehicle was not returned
- Phone records linked the rental transaction to a woman connected to Olivas
- Further investigation showed the couple resided in Orlando
Building the Case Against the Suspect
Investigators made a significant breakthrough when they traced a phone number used in communications with the vehicle’s owner. That phone led them to a woman who had booked a hotel room that was paid for by Olivas. A thorough records check confirmed that Olivas and the woman were living together in Orlando at the time of the crime.
The evidence continued to mount against Olivas. The car’s owner was presented with a photo lineup and positively identified Olivas as the man to whom he had rented the vehicle. Additionally, detectives obtained surveillance footage from a nearby gas station showing Olivas and the woman shortly before the deadly robbery took place.
“This is something that is pleasing to us to know that we have this man in custody and that the family is going to see justice,” authorities stated regarding the arrest.
In a pivotal moment for the investigation, the woman’s brother came forward and identified the man captured in the surveillance video as Olivas, confirming he was his sister’s boyfriend. This family identification proved to be another crucial piece of evidence linking the suspect to the crime scene.
Years on the Run Come to an End
Despite the warrant being filed in December 2021, Olivas managed to evade capture for nearly five years. His time as a fugitive came to an abrupt end when Orlando Police conducted a routine traffic stop and discovered the outstanding warrant from Miami. Olivas was immediately taken into custody and subsequently extradited to Miami-Dade County to face the serious charges against him.
The arrest brings a measure of closure to the Castañeda family, who have waited years for this moment. Walter Castañeda Sr. was more than just a business owner; he was a pillar of the Little Havana community who built his American dream through hard work and dedication. His violent death at the hands of an armed robber sent shockwaves through the neighborhood and left a void that can never truly be filled.
Olivas now faces the full weight of Florida’s justice system, with first-degree murder charges carrying the potential for life imprisonment or even the death penalty. As the case proceeds through the courts, the community watches and waits, hoping that justice will finally be served for a man who lost his life defending what he had worked so hard to build.
