Mothers Speak Out After I-95 Shooting Claims Two Lives
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The mothers of two childhood friends who were shot and killed early Monday on I-95 are speaking out, saying their families are suffering from the loss of "good sons."
Speaking for the first time, the mother of 23-year-old Nathaniel Peterson told CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "He was a nice kid. He was no problem. He would get angry sometimes but he was never a problem. He was a loving father and he loved his child.
"I don't know what happened. But God knows and I am going to let God take care of it."
Peterson's mother did not want to give her name or show her face but she said her son "meant the world to us. He meant the whole wide world. It hurts to lose him. There is too much going on. That's all I can say."
Authorities said they responded to shots being fired on I-95. When they got there, they found the body of Roderick Galimore in a 2003 beige Ford Focus just south of the southbound ramp to I-95 at N.W. 95th St. Police said he had been shot and killed.
Police said Peterson, a father of a 1-year-old girl, was found near an abandoned silver Toyota Camry on the east side of I-95 and was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital where he died.
Miami-Dade Police said they are not sure if Peterson and Galimore were in the same car or separate vehicles. They detained several people for questioning.
Peterson had been in trouble before and had served time in prison for aggravated assault and battery but his mother said he was turning his life around.
"He was changing his life," she said. "He had a job and was starting to do good and stayed to himself. He did that until some people came around."
Rev. Eric Readon of the New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church in Miami Gardens reached out to Peterson's family to offer his help.
"I think this was a tragic loss for this family and I think it is a shame we are still facing these problems in the streets," he said. "I am making a plea to anyone who saw anything to come forward. And like I have said before, it may be raining in their back yard today but it could be raining in your back yard tomorrow."
Readon said he felt it was his obligation to reach out and help families in need.
Galimore's mother told D'Oench that she did not want to say anything on camera but she said young people should spend more time with their parents and stay off the streets during odd hours. She said she was hoping to get more details about the shooting from police.
Anyone with information is urged to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477). There's a reward of up to $3,000.
