A Fort Lauderdale woman was arrested after police say she shot her adult son in the thigh outside Red Rooster Overtown around 3 p.m. on Christmas Day, following an argument that began during brunch at the restaurant on 920 NW Second Ave.
Detectives identified the suspect as Roseita Lavette Smith, 50. She faces an aggravated battery with a deadly weapon charge and is being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. Miami Fire Rescue took the victim to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. Investigators said the dispute started inside the restaurant and continued in the parking lot before the single shot was fired. The case highlights how a routine holiday gathering turned into a criminal investigation now moving from initial arrest to evidence review.
According to a police report, the son told detectives he and Smith arrived for brunch earlier in the afternoon. While inside, Smith accused him of being “disrespectful” to her and other relatives, the report says. The argument resumed in the lot as the two got into Smith’s vehicle. When the son stepped out, Smith followed and fired once, striking his left thigh, according to police. Officers arrived to find the man on the pavement bleeding. Paramedics applied a tourniquet and transported him. Witnesses described a brief commotion near the valet area before people scattered toward the sidewalk as sirens approached, according to on-scene accounts provided to investigators.
Police said Smith left the restaurant before officers secured the scene. She was later located and arrested by the Miami Police Department’s Domestic Violence Felony Apprehension Team. At the hospital, the victim identified Smith as the shooter, detectives wrote in their report. In an interview after her arrest, Smith claimed she acted in self-defense, saying her son had threatened to assault her and refused to get out of her vehicle. Detectives collected surveillance video from the restaurant and nearby businesses and are examining whether any cameras captured the parking-lot confrontation. The caliber of the weapon was not disclosed; investigators said a single round was fired.
Red Rooster Overtown, a high-profile restaurant in Miami’s historic Overtown neighborhood, draws large holiday crowds and tourists. On Thursday, the dining room reopened while staff referred questions to management, who declined to comment pending the investigation. The block around Northwest Second Avenue was busy through the afternoon as shoppers and diners moved between businesses. Officers taped off a section of the lot while crime-scene technicians photographed a blood trail, a recovered shell casing and the path to where the victim collapsed, according to a preliminary scene log.
Jail records show Smith was booked just after midnight Friday. A first court appearance is expected to address the no-bond status and appoint counsel if needed. Prosecutors will review the arrest report, witness statements and any video before filing formal charges. If additional evidence is required, detectives can supplement their reports in the days ahead. Police have not released the son’s name or age, citing victim privacy rules. No other injuries were reported, and officers said there was no ongoing threat to the public.
Witnesses described a jarring turn from a festive brunch to a cordoned-off parking lot. One diner said staff urged patrons to remain inside briefly as officers arrived. Outside, traffic crept past flashing lights while investigators talked with drivers and employees. As evening fell on Christmas Day, the restaurant resumed limited service, and the taped area narrowed to a few spaces near the curb while technicians finished measurements.
As of Friday, the victim remained in stable condition, and police said further updates will follow once video review and lab work are complete. Court scheduling details are expected after the holiday week, including dates for any bond hearing and arraignment.