MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (WSVN) – A recent college graduate is dead after a shooting broke out at a Miami Gardens house party.
According to Miami Gardens Police, officials were dispatched to a residence along Northwest 212th Terrace after calls went out about a shooting, Saturday night. When police arrived on the scene, they said they found 23-year-old Alexandra Dean shot.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue transported Dean to Aventura Hospital where she later died, police said.
The house party drew in a large crowd since it was advertised on social media as a party inspired by “Project X,” a movie about an epic high school party. According to a Miami Gardens Police spokesperson, when the large group of people arrived to the residence, a disturbance broke out, which lead to the shooting, just before 9 p.m.
“That girl did everything in the world to get where she’s at, where she was,” said the victim’s friend, Montreal.
Dean recently graduated from Nova Southeastern University with a nursing degree. Her mother Pauline Dean said that she just wanted to help those in need as a nurse practitioner. “That was her dream,” she said. “She didn’t get a chance to do what she really wanted. Somebody cut her life really, really short. She’s only 23 years old.”
On Monday, a spokeswoman for the university released a statement that said, “Alexandra Dean was beloved by her fellow NSU students and faculty, and we extend our deepest condolences to her family. She was a good student in a tough program and had just participated in commencement ceremonies where she received her BSN degree this past May. She was preparing to take her nursing boards. Becoming a nurse was her passion.”
Dean’s mother, who flew in from Jamaica after she heard the news, said she cannot get the last conversation they had out of her head. “When I spoke to her Friday, I said to her, ‘Study, eat, sleep, study, eat, sleep,” she said. “She says, ‘Yes, mom. I’m gonna do that.’ Somebody invited her to the party.” “Whoever shot that gun should know that bullets don’t know directions,” she said.
Miami Gardens Police are now looking for the shooter or shooters involved in the killing of Dean. A candlelight memorial was set up outside the Miami Gardens home, Sunday, for family and friends to pay their respects. Close friends also made a T-shirt to honor Dean.
Dean’s friends and family continued to gather outside her home and outside the scene of the crime, Monday, to pay their respects. “Whoever come by, whoever passes by, I just want them to never forget,” Montreal said.
Police are currently investigating this case and are looking for the person or people behind it.
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 cash reward.
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