A 15-year-old boy was shot in the back yesterday afternoon in a Miami Gardens neighborhood, reported by authorities. The shooting incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. near Northwest 38th Place and 164th Street, where the teen was walking with four others.
According to police, the boy was on a scooter when one of the individuals accompanying him drew a gun and opened fire, striking him in the back. The specific circumstances that led up to the violent event remain unclear. Miami Gardens Police spokesperson Diana Delgado conveyed that "it’s in the early stages of the investigation, and at this time we know that he was walking with four males who are believed to be the suspects and one of them shot the juvenile in the back," as reported by NBC Miami.
When Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to the possible shooting, they found the teen alert and conscious. He was quickly transported by air to Jackson Memorial Ryder Trauma Center for treatment. The identity of the young victim has been kept confidential due to his minor status. Despite the urgency of the situation, the authorities have yet to place anyone into custody as they continue to search for the four males involved in the incident. A resident, who preferred not to be identified on camera, recounted hearing three gunshots, followed by someone pleading for help. "He was conscious. He was talking because he was also on the phone with 911. But he was on his stomach and telling 911 to hurry up," the witness described in a statement obtained by NBC Miami.
As part of the ensuing investigation, officers together with an ATF K9 Unit were deployed in an effort to track down any clues that could lead to quickly identify and apprehend the culprits. "We want parents to talk to their children. If they have firearms to please put them away so they are out of a juvenile's reach," Miami Gardens police highlighted as a crucial message to the public. A neighbor who heard the gunshots and the boy's cries said, "I'm a mother. If it was my child, I wouldn't want him to be laying in the street somewhere asking for help and no one want to help him," in a statement given to CBS News Miami. She personally attended to the teen, applying pressure on his wound and calling for assistance.
The local community is being called upon to contribute any information they might have to Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-8477 or (305) 471-TIPS. Authorities are making a concerted effort to prevent such incidents by urging safe firearm storage in homes and opening a dialogue with youth about the potential dangers of firearms.
