Man sentenced to life in Rickenbacker cyclist murder case

MIAMI – The man convicted of fatally shooting a cyclist on Rickenbacker Pass in 2019 was sentenced to life in prison Thursday.

Kadel Piedrahitahe was 46 years old was found guilty last month He was convicted of second-degree murder for the shooting death of 48-year-old cyclist Alexis Palencia and of aggravated assault with a firearm on a second cyclist, Cesar Sosa.

The state alleged Piedrahita killed Palencia in cold blood at Rickenbacker Pass in 2019 and said he was fueled by hatred first shown in a Facebook livestream broadcast before the shooting.

Piedrahita claimed that he was defending himself against attacks by Sosa and Palencia and that Sosa gave Palencia a gun.

The judge said Piedrahita would have 30 days to appeal the decision.

Following the guilty verdict, Miami-Dade State’s Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle released the following statement:

“The 2019 fatal shooting of cyclist Alexis Palencia on Rickenbacker Pass horrified our entire community and especially shocked members of Miami-Dade’s close-knit cycling community. Despite Kadel Piedrahita’s claim that he fired in self-defense, the jury decided otherwise. They weighed all the evidence, heard all the testimony, and determined that Piedrahita was indeed guilty of 2nd degree murder.

“I applaud the talented prosecution team of Assistant Attorneys General Arvind Singh and Conor Soper for effectively uncovering the key elements of the case that led Piedrahita to commit this senseless act of violence.

“I hope Alexis Palencia’s family has gained some sense of justice with this verdict, knowing that nothing can replace the senseless loss of a beloved family member.”