FLORIDA CITY, FLA. (WSVN) - - Loved ones held a vigil for the 9-year-old boy who was shot and killed at a Florida City apartment complex.
Family, friends, pastors and neighbors gathered on Wednesday to pray and honor the life of Antavious Scott and to call for justice.
“Father, we ask that you build her up where she may be torn down, oh God,” said a pastor.
Teddy bears, balloons and candles are all that remain in the spot where Scott took his last breath.
“A 9-year-old kid being shot in the front of where he lived doing nothing wrong but playing as kids play. It’s unacceptable and not excusable,” said Florida City Mayor Otis Wallace.
The shooting occurred on Saturday night around 9:30 p.m. at a Florida City community off West Lucy Street.
Witnesses said Scott was with a group of people in the back of the apartment complex when the shooting began. As people ran from the bullets, someone pushed the young boy into the line of fire.
The family described Scott as a bundle of joy.
“He loves football, he loves laughing, he loves joking, he’s a nice kid. He loves being around his brothers and sisters and I’ll tell you like this, he loves his mom,” said Florida City Commissioner Walter Thompson.
Other mothers, who have lost their children to gun violence, rallied to Scott’s mother’s side.
“It’s been three years for my daughter. It’s her and it could be you 10 minutes from now. It could be you tomorrow,” said one of them.
Florida City Police are now searching for the person behind the shooting.
“We can cut this out. We can stamp this out,” said a vigil attendee.
“The problem is, with the entire community, is no one wants to say anything,” said another person.
City officials are asking for the public’s help for any information that can be helpful to finding the shooter.
“We just ordered a $250,000 crime suppression unit that can be taken into the high crime areas and give us better capability,” said Wallace.
While officials know that arresting the shooter doesn’t bring Scott back, they hope they can prevent another tragedy, heartbreak and another mother’s loss.
If you have any information on this crime, call Florida City Police, Miami-Dade Police or 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.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.