Girl Killed When Shots Fired Into Miami Gardens Home
MIAMI GARDENS (CBS4) – Just hours after Miami Gardens Police went door-to-door passing out fliers, family, friends, even strangers remembered a 12-year-old shot and killed while her grandma braided her hair.
Tequila Forshee's grandmother's Miami Garden's home was peppered with bullets late Wednesday night.
Tequila and her three siblings had gone to the home, at 20100 NW 42nd Avenue, to get their hair done so they would look fresh for the new school year.
"They stood out here in the streets and just shot up this house while she's sitting there so excited to get her hair done ready to go to school," said Latoia Crawford, Tequilla's dad's girlfriend told CBS4's Maggie Newland.
"Bullets just started storming in and I thought Tequila just laid over to get out the way," said Tawanda Brown, the girl's grandmother. "At first I was in shock, I was totally in shock and I'm trying to get the other grandbabies, trying to get them down and I'm thinking she's already down."
A bullet had struck Tequila in the head. Her 14-year-old sister Alize, who the family says was grazed by a bullet, made the discovery.
"Alize said 'grandma she's dead, she's not moving, she's not moving, she's not breathing'," said Brown.
Two other children in the home, a 7-year old sitting next to Alize and a 10-year old in the shower, were not hurt.
Tequila's grandmother was struck in the leg.
Tequila's father, Glenn Forshee, told CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "Tequila was a sweet little girl. She was an A-B student, not a wild little girl. She liked to color and play. She meant the world to me. I had custody of all four children, the three girls and a boy. Tequila was my middle child. She kept my family together."
"I don't know my feelings right now," said Forshee. "I am mad and sad and I hurt. I remember the last time I said goodnight to her, said I love you and she said I love you to. She was my baby. My children are torn apart. They watched their sister die. I don't know how we're going to live without her. But we are going to live."
Tequila's family said she had a bright smile and was looking forward to starting Carol City Middle School next week.
Thursday afternoon as Miami Gardens Police went door-to-door in the area of the shooting at Northwest 42nd Ave. and 201st Street, passing out flyers and asking for help from the public. They also hope witnesses will come forward.
Tiffany Taylor, Tequila's aunt, is devastated by her young niece's death.
"Come forth. My baby didn't deserve that. She was 12-years-old. She's got a life to live," said Taylor, adding, "She had a great childhood. It's always what she wanted. She was bright. She didn't deserve this. She didn't deserve this."
Tequila's uncle Roscoe Brown said he thinks the bullets were meant for him but declined to say why.
"Now you happened to hit my little girl, my niece, probably going after me," said Brown. "They went for her. They went for my house, Who shoots at a house?"
Forshee said, "I want to clear the air on this issue. My daughter tequila was not a gang member. She was an innocent bystander."
Brown is desperate for justice for her granddaughter who will never go to a middle school social, will never go to college, and will never have children and grandchildren of her own.
"Where is your conscience? You didn't have to kill my grandbaby like that, Oh God."
One of Tequila's family members said she thought the shooting may have been gang-related.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS.
