Chaos erupted in Opa-locka on Memorial Day when gunfire shattered the holiday calm, leaving two children, aged 12 and 15, with injuries from flying glass after a shooting that began with an altercation at an apartment complex. The mayhem drew a significant response from law enforcement, as Miami-Dade and Opa-locka police alongside Florida Highway Patrol troopers swarmed the area, according to Local 10.
As families sought to celebrate the national holiday, bullets interrupted their peace. A 15-year-old boy sitting in a car was caught in the crossfire as the vehicle was struck by at least one of "several" rounds fired during the dispute inside the 1300 block of Sharazad Boulevard, police said. This incident, which injured the teenager with minor glass cuts, was reported to have begun around the apartment complex before spilling onto Northwest 27th Avenue, Opa-locka authorities stated in a release captured by CBS Miami. The teen, whom police believe was not the intended target, was treated by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue medics on-site, and no hospital transports were initially reported.
In a closely related incident, a 12-year-old boy suffered a cut to the neck from shattered glass after his mother's vehicle was hit by stray bullets. Tiara Eleby, the boy's mother, described the shock following the sound of gunfire, "As soon as we passed the railroad tracks, we heard a pop," Eleby told CBS Miami, further recounting the terrifying moment her son started screaming. Despite the trauma, the child was treated at the scene before being rushed to a local hospital.
The suspected shooter, who has not yet been apprehended, reportedly entered into an altercation with two others before opening fire, a momentary conflict that tore through the fabric of a community now marred by violence, according to police reports. Authorities later converged on another apartment complex in the 100 block of Kalander Street, where the suspect was believed to have been hiding. Despite the intensity of the law enforcement operation, including heavily-armed personnel and multiple agencies coordinating the response, "authorities are working diligently to ensure the safety of the community," police emphasized in a statement obtained by NBC 6 Miami.
Residents of Opa-locka and the surrounding community are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity as the investigation continues. The Memorial Day shootings underscore a violent start to summer, interrupting celebrations, and leaving multiple families grappling with the reality of gunfire echoing where children play. The fear instilled by the day's events reaches beyond the victims, touching the hearts of many more within the Opa-locka community. "Now I'm afraid to ride down there,” Eleby said, a stark reminder of the pervasive anxiety now lingering in the wake of the festivities turned to fright, as reported by CBS News.
