One Teen Killed, Another Arrested After Accidental Shooting In Miami Gardens
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MIAMI GARDENS (CBSMiami) -- Police have arrested a 14-year old boy who they say shot and killed another 14-year old at a Miami Gardens home.
They charged the unidentified teen with Manslaughter and Possession of a Firearm by a Minor.
Police said the unidentified shooter had gone to the house at 2212 N.W. 172 Terrace with a gun. He was showing it off to 14-year old Tavaris Rhodes and another 14-year old, when the gun went off and hit Tavaris.
Family and friends stood outside the home Saturday night, stunned by the boy's death.
"It's a very sad situation with the kids what's going on," said Bernard Martin, the victim's grandfather. "It's very touching man, cause they're just teenagers, they're just kids. They're babies."
"We lost a wonderful kid, always smiling, always playing. Trying to make you laugh," said neighbor and parent Free Balbona. Balbona's own kids were close friends of Tavaris, always at each other's homes, he said.
"They played together in my backyard, on my trampoline. They hanged out. Went to the movies together. Actually he was going to the movies tonight," Balbona said, fighting back tears. "To be honest the only reason I'm speaking right now is because I guess if everybody in the community could be more proactive with the kids. Get themselves involved. Get the kids something to do. It's better than playiing with guns. That's the reality everybody has to face, right? You're never gonna see this kid again."
Sunday morning at New Beginnings Missionary Baptist Church in Miami Gardens, kids filled the building as church leaders held off on their regular sermon and instead put on a special service with the kids directly. The goal is spreading the knowledge to help stop all the recent deaths involving kids and guns.
"The truth about it is, all of it is a sad situation and nobody wins in these situations," Pastor Eric Readon explained. "Therefore, we want to do something that's proactive and productive to try to encourage and inspire other children to do what's right."
The accused teenage shooter is being held at the Juvenile Assesssment Center in downtown Miami.
