MIAMI (WSVN) - MIAMI (WSVN) – Miami’s Liberty City community is mourning the tragic loss of a 4-year-old girl who, police said, was fatally shot by her uncle after an argument with her mother escalated.
Loved ones continued to pay their respects for Nyla Jones at a growing memorial near the spot where she was killed, one day after 24-year-old Ronald Jones was charged with second-degree murder in Saturday’s shooting.
The child’s mother, Shanae Jones, broke down in tears as she approached her daughter’s memorial, Monday afternoon.
7News cameras captured the grieving parent, her face buried in stuffed animals, as she sobbed uncontrollably.
“That was my baby,” she said. “She didn’t deserve to go like this.”
Ronald is facing several charges, including second-degree murder with a weapon.
“It was his niece? Oh, Jesus,” said Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Steven Leifman during the bond hearing on Sunday.
The suspect was denied bond.
“Twenty thousand dollars each on the other three [counts], and no bond on count one,” said Leifman.
According to City of Miami Police, Jones engaged in an altercation with Shanae, near Northwest 65th Street and 13th Court, Saturday, just before 10:30 a.m.
The sister’s cousin, Kamary Bell, told 7News that Ronald then pulled out a gun and fired at his sister’s parked SUV. As he fired off rounds, a stray bullet hit the 4-year-old, who was sitting in the back seat of the vehicle.
“I guess the way he snatched it, it just went off,” said Ronald’s sister, Sharonda Mitchell.
The child’s mother insisted her brother did not mean to harm his niece. “She was his everything, so nobody needs to be far away now,” said Shanae. “It was an accident.”
“We don’t hate him for that, you know what I’m saying?” said Bell.
He would give the world to them, and I just hate that this happened,” said Mitchell, “and I just hate the way that everybody’s trying to portray, like, he tried to shoot her. That don’t make any sense.”
Shanae rushed the child to North Shore Hospital, where she later died.
“It’s killing me that it happened to a family member,” said Bell.
Neighbors described Nyla as a sweet girl and lamented her sudden passing.
“The baby didn’t have a chance, you feel me?” said Jermell Broughton.
“It doesn’t make any sense. These kids don’t have a chance to grow up in life,” said Demetria Bell.
My heart aches for the life of 4-year-old Nyla Jones. Whether the crime is random or domestic in nature, we must take responsibility when a child in our community is murdered. We must also do all we can to provide safety and reassurance to all children.
— Alberto M. Carvalho (@LAUSDSup) April 1, 2018
As her family continues the grieving process, Nyla’s uncle remains behind bars.
“We know he didn’t do it on purpose,” said Bell. “I know it was an accident. We don’t hate him, but we’re family, so we mourn her still. A baby died, so it’s sad.”
“My niece lost her life, but my brother lost his life; he’s in jail,” said Mitchell as she held back tears, “but I’m praying for a better outcome.”
Loved ones and area residents said they plan to hold a candlelight vigil at the site of the shooting, Monday evening.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.