On what seemed like a quiet Sunday morning in one of Miami’s most luxurious high-rises, a tragedy unfolded that shocked the entire community. Seventeen-year-old Dominic Ferrell was asleep in a Brickell condo when he was suddenly attacked and fatally stabbed by a stranger. The incident happened inside the Icon Brickell tower at 485 Brickell Avenue, where Dominic had been staying with his father — even though a court order specifically said he wasn’t allowed to.
Police say Dominic had no idea the man who entered the unit was a threat. He was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time — and according to court records, he never should have been there at all.
Court Order Ignored
Records from a family court case reveal that Dominic’s mother had obtained a restraining order earlier this year. It barred Dominic’s father from being near her or any of their four children. The order was granted after an alleged domestic violence incident in February. Despite that legal protection, Dominic was staying with his father in the 34th-floor condo — a violation of the court’s ruling.
His father had apparently moved into the building after the restraining order was issued and had convinced Dominic to stay with him for a few days. Tragically, it was during that brief visit that the unthinkable happened.
An Intruder’s Deadly Path
The man who killed Dominic has been identified as 26-year-old Kyrill Kehl, originally from Canada but most recently living in Arizona. Surveillance footage shows Kehl arriving in Miami just two days earlier. He managed to sneak into the building by following someone through a secure entrance — a method often called “piggybacking.”
He then rode the elevator to upper floors, checking door handles until he found one that was unlocked. That door led him straight into the unit where Dominic was sleeping. What happened next was brutal and senseless — Kehl stabbed Dominic multiple times, then fled the scene through a construction site.
Shortly after, Kehl was found dead nearby, having apparently fallen from a significant height. Investigators believe he may have jumped or fallen while trying to escape.
Mental Health Questions Surface
Friends and former acquaintances of Kehl have described him as unstable in recent months. A former landlord said he gave off “bad vibes” and left behind property damage when he moved out of a Miami Beach apartment. Police suspect mental health may have played a role in the attack, but they’re waiting on toxicology and psychological evaluations to learn more.
So far, there’s no evidence Kehl knew Dominic or had any connection to him or his family. The murder appears to be completely random — and that’s part of what makes it so disturbing.
Community in Mourning
News of Dominic’s death has left family, friends, and neighbors heartbroken. He was a former student at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School, where staff called him “a beloved alum.” Loved ones are now planning a funeral, while also trying to make sense of what happened.
Residents of Icon Brickell are shaken. One neighbor told reporters she’s now triple-checking her door locks. “It’s terrifying to think that someone could just walk into the building and make it all the way upstairs,” she said.
The building’s management hasn’t released a statement yet, but residents are demanding tighter security measures and better enforcement of access protocols.
Unanswered Questions and Ongoing Investigation
Police are still piecing together exactly how Kehl got in and what may have motivated him. They’re also investigating how Dominic ended up in the apartment in violation of the restraining order. No charges have been filed against his father yet, but that could change as the legal process unfolds.
In the meantime, Dominic’s mother has been given custody of his remains, and the family is preparing to lay him to rest.
A Painful Reminder
This heartbreaking story is a painful reminder of how fragile safety can be — even in places that feel secure. It raises serious questions about how buildings protect their residents, how mental health crises can erupt without warning, and what can happen when court orders are ignored.
For now, a family is grieving a young life lost far too soon. And a city is left asking how it could have been prevented.
