NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - Police are searching for the person or people behind a drive-by shooting in Northwest Miami-Dade that left a woman dead and sent her teenage son to the hospital.
Family members of 13-year-old Edian Soto were seen leaving Jackson Memorial Hospital, Monday afternoon.
Speaking through a translator, a relative said the teen is expected to recover.
“He’s OK, thank God,” he said.
According to Miami-Dade Police, Soto and his mother, 43-year-old, Ivelisse Sanchez, were shot several times as they slept in their home along the 12800 block of Northwest 18th Court at around 4 a.m., Sunday.
When officers arrived, police said they found the victims suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.
Paramedics transported them to Ryder Trauma Center where Sanchez succumbed to her injuries.
7News cameras captured paramedics taking Soto inside of the hospital.
DRIVE BY SHOOTING | A mother is dead, her son in the hospital after a drive by shooting early this AM in NWMD. Neighbors heard at least a dozen shots on Nw 18 Ct/129th St pic.twitter.com/lH5jFvzVF7
— Alex Browning (@Alex7News) January 26, 2020
Neighbors said they woke up to several gunshots, and at least 10 shell casings were found in front of the home.
“I heard shots, ‘pow, pow, pow, pow, pow, pow,'” said an area resident.
“It woke me out of seat like at 4:30,” said neighbor Jocsan Vargas. “I actually thought it was in front of my own house.”
NEW IMAGES of the home that was shot up early Sunday morning in Northwest Miami Dade during a drive-by shooting. A mother left dead and her son rushed to the hospital @wsvn pic.twitter.com/HG0M6KZXvA
— Franklin H. White (@FranklinOnAir) January 26, 2020
7News captured a bullet-riddled window at the victims’ home, Sunday afternoon, as crime scene investigators continued to search for clues.
“I don’t feel safe here anymore,” said a woman who asked not to be identified or show her face on camera.
Area residents said the mother and son had recently moved into the neighborhood.
“My condolences to the family and to the child and the mom who passed away,” said Vargas.
Monday afternoon, Miami-Dade Police detectives were seen passing out flyers to area residents.
The victims’ family said they believe the shooting was a case of mistaken identity.
“My son is 1, and you know, it could have been this house or any other house,” said the woman who lives in the neighborhood.
Bullets are indiscriminately targeting children, mothers, fathers on the streets & inside homes. When will it end? How many lives will be lost? How many more senseless tragedies must we witness? Stricter gun control shouldn’t be a political position, but a moral imperative.
— Alberto M. Carvalho (@LAUSDSup) January 26, 2020
Miami-Dade County Public Schools officials have since confirmed the 13-year-old is a student in the district.
7News sources confirmed he is a student at Hialeah Middle School. Crisis counselors were available on campus, Monday.
As detectives continue to investigate, area residents said only time can heal such a tragic loss.
“I know the neighborhood is just going to take a while to come out of this one, but we’re going to do it,” said Vargas. “It’s just hard.”
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 $3,000 reward.
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