In Liberty City, grief is rolling on two wheels.
Dozens of bikers, relatives and neighbors packed the streets of Miami’s Liberty City on Wednesday to honor Dwight Wells, the man behind the Bikes Up, Guns Down movement who was shot to death last October. Riders looped past the storefront where Wells ran his Winning And Won Turkey Legs stand, chanting the movement’s mantra, “bikes up, guns down,” as they rode by. Organizers said the event was one of a series of monthly vigils that supporters have been staging while they wait for answers in his still-unsolved killing.
The rally came as the community marked roughly four months since Wells was gunned down outside his restaurant. Supporters again pressed detectives for progress and said they want both justice and his message to stay front and center. The monthly gatherings are meant to keep pressure on investigators and to keep Wells’ anti-violence work from fading from public view, according to CBS News Miami.
Rides For Peace And Remembrance
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a large Bikes Up, Guns Down ride doubled as a rolling memorial for Wells. Organizers said he had used these group rides to steer kids away from the streets and toward something more positive. Participants told Local 10 the events are designed to promote positivity and to push back on the stereotype that riders are just troublemakers clogging traffic. City officers were present along the route to keep an eye on the procession.
Police Investigation And Family's Plea
Miami police say Wells had been playing dominoes outside his Liberty City restaurant when someone walked up and opened fire. He was rushed to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he later died. At a December news conference, his mother, Mary Brown, pleaded with the public to speak up and said that seeing the case solved would “mean more than money.” Investigators told reporters they released surveillance footage that appears to show a person running from the scene, but they have not made an arrest, according to CBS News Miami.
Wells' Work And Legacy
Friends and supporters describe Wells as a mentor who turned his life around after serving time and then poured his energy into public rides and outreach aimed at giving young people a different path from violence. Community members have marked his death with vigils, balloon releases and a mural that now covers a wall of his restaurant. Neighborhood accounts and local reporting describe his impact as complicated but deeply felt among many young riders, according to the Liberty City Independent.
How To Help
Authorities are still asking anyone with information about the shooting to contact Miami‑Dade Crime Stoppers at 305‑471‑8477. Tipsters can remain anonymous and may qualify for a reward, according to WSVN. Local 10 coverage has shown riders returning to the neighborhood month after month to keep attention on the case and on Wells’ message. Organizers say the community plans to continue its memorial rides and vigils until the investigation produces a concrete lead.
