NORTH MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - Gunshots rang out at a party that took place in North Miami-Dade, leaving one person dead and three others injured, police said.
Miami-Dade Police and Fire Rescue units responded to the scene of the shooting along the 15000 block of South River Drive, just before 10 p.m., Sunday.
Witnesses said the event was being held at the Boss Mansion when it turned violent and people began running.
Responding officers arrived to find the man and two juveniles suffering from gunshot wounds. They also found a woman who had been grazed by a bullet.
According to MDPD, a fight broke out between a 22-year-old male and a 24-year-old male.
The shooting was caused by someone else, which killed the 22-year-old while the 24-year-old was shot in the butt but was transported in stable condition.
The police are not releasing any names yet, and they are searching for the shooter.
“We don’t know what the argument was about,” said Miami-Dade Police officer Luis Sierra. “Bottom line, there was kids at a party and no one deserved to get shot.”
Witnesses described a chaotic scene.
“I heard gunshots. I heard a guy yelling, saying, ‘Oh, I’ve been shot,'” said a woman, “and I heard the commotion of everybody yelling. Then I saw when they were dragging him out.”
“Once I go out the door to see what happened, I looked towards the Boss Mansion, and all I see are people screaming and running, and I hear the guy [screaming], going like that,” said another witness.
A woman who came to the scene said teens were attending the party, including her son. She said her son’s 14-year-old friend and the friend’s mother were among the victims.
“I pulled up, and I see the friend getting taken by the paramedics. I see the mom, her foot is full of blood. She’s sitting down in the chair,” she said.
“They supposedly had an argument, from what I understood, over a phone,” said Maurice Symonette, who owns the Boss Mansion, where the shooting took place.
Symonette said his non-profit, Boss Group Ministries, Inc., owns the home, and he said he is adamant that a party did not occur Sunday night, where someone lost their life.
“I am very sorry about that ’cause I don’t even know who he is,” said Symonette. “I wasn’t even here last night because I wasn’t throwing a function last night. They just came by the house because it’s Easter.”
“We do know it is a home that is rented out for parties,” said Sierra. “What kind of parties, we’re not 100% sure, but we do know that there’s a lot of events going on at that home.”
Neighbors said the house where the shooting took place is a problem house. The home consists of several bedrooms, a tennis court and pool.
Online, the house is listed as a performance and event venue, and recently someone promoted a spring break party at the home with a $10 cover charge. One flyer promoted a jet ski pool party over the weekend, with the after party at another location.
“There has been multiple complaints about this home, and we are working with the Regulatory and Economic Resources Department, and they are aware of the nuance that’s going on in the home,” said Sierra. “and they are investigating the home as well.”
“We like to stay inside when these parties go on,” one woman said. “It’s just not safe.”
“It is ridiculous that someone has to lose their life,” said neighbor Elizabeth Judd. “Finally, maybe this will cease.”
“We have filed complaints with the county, we have filed complains with the police and nothing happens,” said a man with a black shirt who did not want to shown on camera.
One man who stays at the house denies any major issues.
“I don’t know about that,” he said. “We have events, but it’s never been no problem.”
“I know that there has been parties going on there for over 10 years at least,” said Judd.
7News cameras captured crews as they placed the victims on stretchers.
Paramedics transported the man to Ryder Trauma Center where he succumbed to his injuries.
The juveniles were also transported and suffered gunshot wounds to the lower extremities and were listed in stable condition.
The woman, who was grazed, was not transported.
Police cordoned off at least two blocks.
Investigators are attempting to determine who the shooter may have been and whether this was a domestic incident.
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 reward of up to $5,000.
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