NORTH MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - Loved ones are speaking out a day after a shooting in a North Miami-Dade neighborhood sent four family members, including two children, to the hospital.
Miami-Dade Police and Fire Rescue units responded to the scene of the incident along the 200 block of South Biscayne River Drive, Monday evening.
Police said the younger victims are a 6-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl.
A family member, Mirlanda Alisma identified the children as her nephew Asher and niece Mariah.
“I just hope that they’re OK,” she said.
Investigators said there was some type of large gathering when the shooter drove up in a black sedan, just before 5:45 p.m.
“The subject exited the vehicle, shot into the crowd, re-entered the vehicle and then fled the scene,” said MDPD detective Khristopher Welch.
“I heard multiple gunshots, I’d say 10 or more,” said area resident Rebeka Scott.
“I ducked low. I was trying to look, but I’m like, ‘You know what? Let me just stay low ’cause bullets might fly anywhere, and I don’t want to get hit,'” said witness Reginald Jean.
Alisma said she was outside her home in her sister’s car and about to head to a birthday party when she heard gunshots.
“That’s when all we heard was boom, boom, boom, boom, boom,” she said. “Everybody started running and me and my sister was in the car like this. My brother was in the car with my nephew and my niece and he was down like that, and then my niece and my nephew, where they were sleeping at, that’s where they got shot.”
Alisma said her niece and nephew were sleeping in back seat of a green Kia Soul which is now riddled with at least 12 bullet holes.
“The little girl was shot right here and then the boy he was shot here,” she said as she indicated where the children were injured.
Jean described the heart-stopping moments when the young victims came under fire.
“I did see a bullet graze her on her leg, and then the little boy who was sleeping in the back seat, he got shot right here in the back,” he said.
“It’s horrible. It’s really horrible,” said Scott.
Along with her niece and nephew, Alisma said, the other two victims were Alisma’s cousins. Both were shot in the leg.
“We should be outraged. This is a heinous crime. This is a family-oriented community,” said Welch.
Police said all of the victims drove to another hospital before they were transported to Ryder Trauma Center. They were all listed in stable condition.
7News cameras captured one of the children shortly after being airlifted to the hospital.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the children remain in the hospital, and the adults have been released.
Alisma said she is worried about her family members and hopes they will be released from the hospital soon.
Back at the crime scene, investigators spent hours taking pictures and placing evidence markers on the ground.
Unfortunately, police said, they don’t have much to go on, so now they’re turning to the public for help.
“We don’t know if the shooter was known to the victim. At this particular point in time, we don’t know if there was another individual or individuals in the vehicle,” said Welch. “We’re confident in the community. If they saw something, they’re able to say something, and they can do so anonymously.”
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 $1,000 reward.
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