MIAMI GARDENS, FLA. (WSVN) - Police are investigating after three family members who were searching for a missing 15-year-old girl were shot in Miami Gardens, Friday morning.
According to police, the mother, aunt and uncle of 15-year-old Janiya Johnson were searching for her near Northwest 23rd Avenue and Bunche Park Drive at around 9 a.m. when they were shot.
“While the shooting was going on, I’m just standing at the door like, I wanna see what’s going on,” said Elliot Taylor.
7Skyforce flew over the scene, where two of the victims could be seen being loaded onto a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue helicopter. They were transported to Jackson Memorial’s Ryder Trauma Center with injuries that were not life-threatening.
The family said Johnson is wearing an ankle monitor, and it led them to a home in the area where they were shot.
Police have released a photo taken by one of the victims of a man they are looking for.
It is unclear if the shooter has anything to do with Janiya’s disappearance or what led up to the shooting.
Officials said a man who had been living out of his car opened fire on the family.
“We don’t know if the suspect is connected to the missing girl, but we believe that they were at some point together at this location,” said Miami Gardens Police Officer Carlos Austin. “There are a lot of empty homes here in Bunche Park, abandoned homes. He could be anywhere.”
Witnesses reported hearing an argument before the gunshots.
“You just heard people arguing, and the next thing you know, you just heard pow, pow, pow, pow, pow, pow, pow, and that was it,” said Taylor.
Police are now searching the area for both Janiya and the shooter.
“We need change,” Taylor said. “We need to keep these guns off these streets, so people can live a normal life.”
Officials believe Janiya’s ankle monitor is not working properly at this time.
If you have any information, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $1,000 reward.
Copyright 2023 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.