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Two Dead In Miami Gardens Gas Station Shooting

MIAMI GARDENS (CBS4) – The search is on for those responsible for an overnight shooting at a Miami Gardens gas station which left two people dead.

It happened just after 12:30 a.m. when Julian Soler, 23 and Kennia Duran, 24, pulled into the Mobil Mart gas station at NW 57th Avenue and 167th Street.  As the car came to a stop, the couple was approached by three or four people, according to police. There was some sort of altercation which led to shots being fired, both Soler and Duran were hit.

"A vehicle pulled into the gas station and he (the driver) was approached by several individuals. We don't know right now the motive of this incident. The victim was shot at the scene where he died at the scene. There was another victim that was transported to Ryder Trauma, a female victim, she also died at Ryder Trauma," said Miami Gardens police spokesman Captain Ralph Suarez.

"We gave them (the police) our surveillance footage.  We are certainly very sorry for the family, the victims.  We sincerely hope the police will get the footage out there to you guys, the media, and somebody will be caught," the store's manager John Peach told CBS4's Gwen Belton.

Police found a burned out Nissan Pathfinder some distance away and believe it may have been the vehicle used by the suspects to escape after the shooting. They believe the SUV was torched to destroy any evidence which may lead police to those involved in the shooting.

"We got up at 5 in the morning and we watched the news. We saw Julian's car, so we went to the crime scene,"said Duran's stepfather George Esquirol. "It's just unbelievable, I am speechless. I just can't believe someone would take another human being's life. Take somebody's purse. Maybe she resisted, I don't know."

Esquirol told CBS4's Tiffani Helberg that Duran leaves behind a 6 year old son. They sent the boy off to daycare Monday morning without telling him what happened to his mother.

"How do you tell a 6 year old that his mother died?" said Esquirol. "I just hope they turn themselves in. I just want them to know they killed two beautiful human beings and left a 6 year old boy without his mother."

Duran worked for Catholic Charities, which released this statement through Executive Director Dr. Richard Turcotte:

"The  Catholic  Charities  family  is  grieving over the loss of this young, vibrant and committed employee.  We extend our condolences and prayers to the Kennia's family at this time as Our Lord welcomes her home". 

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers (305) 471-8477.

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