NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - A day after the shooting at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park, officials held a news conference at the park to ask for information on who was behind the gun.
Miami-Dade Police Director Juan J. Perez addressed the shooting, Tuesday, at around 5 p.m. The shooting injured eight people. The youngest victim is 11 years old.
Perez was surrounded by many religious and community leaders. Some of the victims also attended the conference. “Help us get closure a lot faster than it would to the normal process,” Perez said. “We’re gonna get there through the investigative process, but we want an expeditious closure to this case.”
Officials said the shootings need to stop to make the community a safer place for everyone.
“Enough is enough. We need information right now, so we don’t have to any longer talk to victims of shootings,” Perez said. “We don’t have to keep our kids out of these parks. We don’t have to keep families from coming to the great day, the celebration of Martin Luther King Day. We don’t have to keep people away from those parades so that we’re not ashamed. ‘The shameful city,’ ‘The shameful county.’ In this nation, that has to be talking about shootings during Martin Luther King’s parade.”
Several people who attended the event or have loved ones who were harmed during the incident described the shooting as shameful. “It was too close to home,” said witness Tammy Meeks.
Meeks was at the park with her son when she heard the shots. “My main goal was to get down, cover them, so they aren’t harmed,” she said.
Many others also took cover behind cars and tables, once shots rang out. “You also have people that, in the panic of it, were injured in the stampede,” said Miami-Dade Police Detective Marjorie Eloi.
Police quickly searched nearby homes for those who may have been involved in the shooting. Miami-Dade Police arrested two people unrelated to the shooting and confiscated two firearms.
“A day like today, we’re not going to tolerate this,” said Eloi. “We’re going to continue to investigate and, hopefully, find some closure for these victims.”
The family of one of the victims, 20-year-old Gerome Battle, spoke out on Tuesday and said his family is thankful he is alive. “When you hear about it you realize, oh, that’s messed up,” said father Gerome Battle Sr. “When it gets so close to you, you don’t know how your reaction is going to be.”
The Battle family recalled the shooting, using words they never thought they would use after the MLK celebration. “A whole lot of innocent people got shot,” said Battle Sr. “I don’t know. It’s just messed up. It’s crazy.”
Photos showed Gerome recovering at Jackson Memorial Hospital. According to his family, he has undergone two surgeries since the shooting.
Battle’s sister, Ambresha, was alongside her brother when the gunfire erupted. “We was all at the park and in the middle of the crowd,” Ambresha said. “They started fighting and then everything broke out, so it was hectic.”
Ambresha said her brother grabbed her and started to run. Shortly after they began to flee, Gerome was shot in the back and fell to the ground. The bullet reportedly exited through his stomach. “He grabbed me, and he was like, ‘My stomach, my stomach,'” she said.
The family said they remain in shock that a senseless act of violence took place on a day that should stand for so much more. “It shouldn’t happen because [Martin Luther King] served for us to have fun and show that we can be out there with a lot of people,” said Ambresha, “through what happened. We can’t do that anymore.”
Of the eight victims, six of them were female and two male. They have been identified as 14-year-old Lajada Benson, 15-year-old Nakya-Senat Butler, 17-year-old Alfanesha Times, 18-year-old Shawnteri Wilson and 30-year-old Michael Clarke. According to police, a 13-year-old and an 11-year-old were grazed by bullets. The 11-year-old was treated at the scene and sent home.
“I was on the ground. They still was shooting,” Wilson said. “The only thing that was on my mind was my little sister and I hope I just don’t get shot again. I’m very lucky. I’m blessed.”
Alexander Brito-Peralta and Tavarius Flowers were arrested on scene and charged for possession of a gun but not for the shooting. Flowers faced a judge Tuesday for a child abuse charge after he told police he left his children with his gun under the playground while he searched for his third son who was lost in the chaos.
“It’s a day for peace,” said Wilson’s father Clifford Green. “Just one day out of the week, just band together.”
Officials will be passing out flyers to the community members. Police believe the shooters are two young men, 18 or 19-years-old.
“I’m asking for information. We’re asking for information. Help us resolve this case today,” Perez said. “Tell us who did it. We have reward money, but it shouldn’t even be about that, but if that’s what it takes, we’re willing to put up the money.”
Police have not made any arrests in the shooting. Officials have added an additional $20,000 in reward money for tips that could lead to an arrest.
If you have any information on this shooting, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $21,000 reward.
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