In a shocking incident in Miami, a landlord is accused of killing his tenant following a disagreement over the thermostat setting. The incident occurred as temperatures in South Florida dropped to the high 40s. Adam Louis Anson, 37, resides in a house on SW 17th Terrace, which includes an attached efficiency apartment that he rents out. The thermostat for the entire property is situated in a hallway within the rented apartment, as per an arrest affidavit.
Anson is alleged to have armed himself with a handgun and approached the apartment around 8 a.m. on a Saturday. His intention was to alter the thermostat setting. The tenant, 57-year-old Carlos Alberto Gonzalez, answered Anson’s knock on the window. According to police reports, Anson then forced his way into the apartment and began assaulting Gonzalez without provocation.
The assault escalated when Anson reportedly dragged Gonzalez to the backyard and shot him multiple times in the head. Following the shooting, Anson returned to the apartment, adjusted the thermostat to his preference, and then retreated to his side of the house. He subsequently called 911.
Emergency services arrived promptly and rushed Gonzalez to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Anson defended his actions, claiming that Gonzalez had attempted to hit him, prompting him to draw his gun and fire.
However, the police found no evidence supporting Anson’s claim of self-defense. He was subsequently arrested and charged with second-degree murder and armed burglary with assault. The exact reason for Anson’s alleged anger over the thermostat setting remains unclear. However, it is worth noting that the temperatures in Florida had dropped to the high 40s, which is considered cold for residents accustomed to warmer weather.
Anson is currently being held at a Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation facility without bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for February 18. Local residents have reported that tensions at the property have been high for some time, with law enforcement being called to the residence on multiple occasions. One neighbor, Leyani Perez, recounted hearing a disturbance followed by gunshots. She described the fear she felt, realizing something was wrong and calling her husband for help.