Family Pleads Community To Break Silence In 6 Year Old's Murder
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A family is pleading for the community to break their silence in the shooting death of a 6-year-old boy.
"Rest in Peace King, your desk will never be the same."
It's heartbreaking for King Carter's aunt, Tawana Akins, to sit at his desk. The little boy loved math.
Tawana could never have imagined she'd be mourning his murder – and looking for his killer.
"We need tips. The community needs to stop being silent all the time. Everyone is silent until it happens to their family," she said.
But getting tips is not easy. Many in the community clam up – afraid of retaliation.
It's a problem Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho says has to stop.
"There is a code of silence that is killing children in Miami," he said.
Tangela Sears' son was murdered. She knows how tips can catch a killer and how community fear can hurt an investigation.
She's working with lawmakers to get a new law that will change that.
"The only way witnesses will talk is if they are protected and that's why we're fighting for this bill," she said.
In Miami Gardens, police there – along with social service workers – go door to door once a month for what they call "walking one stop."
They bring solutions to people's front door. They also try to build trust – and many times, it pays off.
"We end up getting a phone call later with information that any other way we probably wouldn't have gotten if it wasn't for that contact," Miami Gardens Police Chief Antonio Brooklen said.
Miami-Dade Chairman Jean Monestime is hoping to get more money in the budget for more officers to catch criminals. He also wants money to prevent kids from turning to crime.
"We need money for after school programs, for additional programs in our parks," Monestime said.
Local pastors presented Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers with a $1,000 check to boost the reward in the case.
"Somebody needs to be brought to justice. It saddens my soul that a 6-year-old boy can't be outside playing without suffering gun violence," said Pastor Eric Readon.
