Miami Police Alarmed Over NW Miami Drive-By Shooting
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Surveillance video released Tuesday shows the moments when gunmen opened fire at a northwest Miami intersection.
Miami Police said 15 rounds were fired and fortunately no one was killed.
Miami Police Chief Rodolfo Llanes told CBS4's Peter D'Oench that the shooter used a high-powered rifle and while the investigation is making progress and there are some leads, he is alarmed.
"We are talking about a person who could have murdered five people," said Llanes. "Yet through the grace of God they didn't get hit where they could have died. This person had the potential to be a serial murderer. So I think it is important that the community come out so that an arrest can be made. We are working this case and getting information from the community and I appreciate that."
The video that was obtained by CBS4 from a store owner at the crime scene and broadcast first on CBS4 shows the dramatic moments before, during and after the shooting spree.
At 6:27 p.m. Monday, you see a silver colored Nissan possibly and Altima or Sentra come around a corner at NW 15th Avenue and NW 70 St.
You see people on the street ducking for cover once shots rang out. A woman is surprised and shows her emotion. She bows down and stares at the ground in apparent disbelief.
Within 60 seconds, Miami Dade Police cars drive up to the scene. Four women and one man were shot.
Video shows the reaction of one man after the shooting. He is apparently injured. He takes his shirt off and eventually collapses. You see a police officer attending to him as one woman calls for help.
On Tuesday afternoon, Miami Police released a portion of the same video that showed the shooter's Nissan.
One of the victims, Belinda, who says she was shot in the back, said she will not forget what happened.
"What were you thinking when the shots rang out," asked D'Oench.
"I wanted to save myself," she said.
"Actually I thought it was fireworks, still I see everyone else running and I started running," said Belinda.
"Any idea who they were shooting at," asked D'Oench.
"No idea," said Belinda. "I was running for my life."
When asked how she felt about what happened, she said "I just feel bad that I had to get shot and I had nothing to do with whatever they was going through."
Belinda showed us the bandage covering her bullet wound on her lower back.
"I just want them to be caught and justice will be served," she said. "I feel really bad because kids are dying. I could have lost my life."
Sharon Nelms said her 26-year-old daughter Dominique Johnson is in the intensive care unit at Jackson Memorial Hospital after being shot in the back as well.
"She's doing pretty good," said Nelms. "She is in ICU but hopefully through the grace of God she will recover."
Nelms added, "It's sad, really sad, shooting people in a drive by but eventually they will catch them."
Meantime, investigators continue to search for the gunmen in the shooting. The motive of the shooting is unclear. Police said they are unsure who was being targeted.
Anyone with information is urged to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471- TIPS.
