Teen Critical After Being Shot In Front Of Her Home
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Exhausted and in shock, a mother is trying to understand how her teenage daughter ended up in the hospital after being shot.
North Miami Beach Police said the 15-year-old was shot in front her home at NE 14th Avenue and NE 155th Terrace. The girl was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. She is currently in the intensive care unit at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood.
Gina Pierre said before she went to bed she checked in on her daughter Milinda Michelle Pierre.
A little after 11 p.m. she heard screams.
"I lay down. I fall asleep, so by 11 o'clock I just heard 'mommy, mommy, I get shot', that's it," said Pierre. "This is very shocking. I don't know why anyone would have done something like this. She has no problems with anybody. She was shot right here and the bullet came through her back. She may be paralyzed. I hope not."
"One shot," said neighbor Paulina Aly, "I don't know if she's okay."
Aly said shortly after she heard that shot police began to pour into the neighborhood.
She and another neighbor said they weren't shocked when they saw which home police were surrounding.
"It's not the first time that the police was in this house. This house has a lot of problems and the police come back and forth," said Aly.
"There was nonstop cops going in there, ambulances, you name it," said neighbor Kristie Gouven.
Police confirm that the home has a call history but didn't say much beyond that.
Pierre said her daughter stays out of trouble and she has no idea who would want to hurt her.
"She's a sweetheart, never have problems with her, and she's an A student," said Pierre.
Milinda is a ninth grader at North Miami Beach Senior high, a member of the ROTC, and the volleyball team.
Fellow 9th grader Lillian Martinez told CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "I can't believe this happened. This should not be happening to kids so young. This is not right and this is scary. This needs to stop."
Another 9th grader, Shekimah Comperer, said "This is really upsetting to me. Kids should be enjoying their lives rather than worrying about what can happen to them. There was no reason for this and this girl needs to live. There are too many kids out there being shot.'
Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho took to Twitter to express his anger.
Cowardly gun violence strikes again. 15-year old girl in critical condition after being shot overnight. Break the code of silence. #Enough
— Alberto M. Carvalho (@MiamiSup) May 12, 2017
There was also a second shooting in North Miami Beach overnight. It happened just after 10 p.m. Thursday at 169th Street and NE 19th Avenue. One man was rushed to the Aventura Hospital as a 'trauma alert'.
Police do not believe the two shootings are connected.
Anyone with information should call North Miami Beach Police or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).
