A 17-year-old girl is recovering after she was grazed by a bullet in a shooting at a Fort Lauderdale residence. The incident occurred yesterday around 2:27 p.m. on the 2900 block of Northwest 23rd Street. The teen, who has not been named, was at home with her sisters, a friend, and her nephew when they were suddenly caught in the line of fire, as reported by CBS Miami.
"At first we thought it was fireworks, but then they like — they kept going — so I jumped on the floor but when I looked, I saw my leg was like bleeding and it was leaking really, really bad and it was like a big hole so I kind of panicked and started crying because I was scared," the victim told CBS Miami. In an act of surprising composure, the victim expressed her future intentions, saying, "I'm going to pray for the people that shot me. I'll be better soon."
Following the attack, doorbell camera footage showed a group of men hurriedly making their escape from the scene, rushing into a blue car. Multiple bullet casings were found by police outside the house, which sustained several bullet holes. According to the victim's sister, hurricane shutters installed at the home deflected some bullets and likely spared the family from more harm.
"You see we have shutters and that's the only thing that saved us, it couldn't go through the shutters I guess -- it like bounced off so it couldn't go through the shutters," the sister explained to CBS Miami. As investigators continue to look into the shooting, clues such as the surveillance footage may prove crucial in identifying the perpetrators. Echoing her sister’s sentiment, another sibling told NBC Miami, "Everybody pray for them people, pray for them people, I'm going to leave that to God, let God handle that."
The family, who had only moved into the home a few months prior, believes this was a case of mistaken identity. They have expressed their intention to leave in the hopes of finding safety elsewhere. Amidst the trauma, the teen victim conveyed a message of faith and resilience, telling NBC Miami, "I'm happy that I'm OK, that my family is okay and safe, so that's all that matters."
The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is urging anyone with information regarding the shooting or the suspects involved to come forward, reminding the public that tips can be provided anonymously. The victim's unwavering strength in the face of such violence is a poignant reminder of the human spirit's capacity to seek peace even when confronted with its very opposite.
