A 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death inside a luxury Miami high-rise early Sunday morning, leaving police scrambling for answers in a case that took another bizarre turn when the suspect was later found dead. Dominic Ferrell was attacked shortly after 2 a.m. on the 34th floor of the Icon Residences at 485 Brickell Avenue, a building that also houses the W Hotel. Officers responding to the scene found the teenager with multiple stab wounds; he was pronounced dead at the location.
The violent crime triggered a massive police response, with SWAT teams and dozens of officers flooding the upscale Brickell neighborhood. Surveillance footage reportedly captured the suspect, later identified as 26-year-old Kyrill R. Kehl, fleeing the building and running toward a nearby construction site. Hours later, Kehl’s body was discovered at the construction zone, though authorities have not revealed how he died. The strange sequence of events has left investigators with more questions than answers about what truly happened that night.
Residents of the luxury tower and surrounding area expressed shock at the brazen violence in one of Miami’s safest districts. “I’ve lived here five years and never seen anything like this,” said neighbor Rick Colangelo, describing a scene with 30 to 50 police vehicles. The killing has sparked concerns about security in Brickell’s high-rises, especially following other recent violent incidents in the area, including an attempted rape at a nearby building weeks earlier.
Police spokesperson Mike Vega admitted investigators remain “completely in the dark” about what led to the stabbing, confirming there was no party or large gathering at the apartment. Detectives are working to determine any connection between Ferrell and Kehl, as well as the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death. A mobile crime lab remained at the scene Monday as forensic teams continued gathering evidence from both crime scenes.
Community leaders are calling for increased security measures and transparency from building management after the shocking incident. Christian Tang of the Brickell & Downtown Miami Community Group noted growing unease among residents, saying people are “worried about their safety” in what should be one of the city’s most secure neighborhoods.
With both victim and suspect now dead, authorities face significant challenges in piecing together the full story. As the investigation continues, the case has left Miami’s glittering Brickell district grappling with unsettling questions about violence, security, and the mysterious circumstances surrounding two sudden deaths. Police urge anyone with information to come forward as they work to unravel this tragic case.
