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Police Make Arrest In Mother And Toddler Killing

MIAMI - (CBS4) - Miami police have arrested a 22-year-old man in connection with the killing of a state corrections officer and her young son.

Henry Anthon Ferguson appeared before a bond court judge Wednesday facing two counts of first-degree murder and four counts of 2nd degree attempted murder. He was denied bond.

Details of Ferguson's involvement in the shooting were not known because a judge has ordered to seal the arrest warrant and arrest affidavit.

"We have been praying that they catch them. Praying every day. I cry," said relieved neighbor Glen Payne.  "I am just sick about it. Can't eat, can't sleep."

What is known is that the arrest comes two weeks after the December 14th shooting that occurred just after 1 a.m. at 630 NW 73rd St. in the Victory Homes housing project in the area known as Model City.

According to Miami police, there were six people in home at the time of the shooting. Ciara Lee, 24, and her two-year old son Devon Franklin died in a hail of bullets. Lee's uncle, 49-year old Tony Lee, was shot in the leg. He was taken to the Ryder Trauma Center where he was treated and released.

That night hundreds of family members, friends and members of the community gathered outside the projects to pray and march.

At the time, Ciara's father Derek Johnson said, "My grandson didn't even have a chance, my daughter- she was just starting. She was just starting to live."

Johnson dared the shooter or shooters to show their face, yelling out into the crowd of mourners.

"Who hate us!? Tell me that, who hate us! That's what I want to know. Who hate us?"

And he demanded that those in power stop this plague of violence.

"They say we getting this, we getting that but our children continue to die!"

At the time, Miami police held a press conference and said that the mother and son were not the intended targets of the attack. Miami Police Chief Miguel Exposito said the shooting may have been drug-related based on the type of weapons used.

Back then, police said they had no suspects.

"This is ridiculous, my grand-baby and my daughter, both of them dead," said Lee's mother Teresa Lee. "They say somebody came and shot up the house. I don't know who did it, but I want you all to catch them. That baby didn't ask for this, he was my only grandson."

Lee said she spoke to her daughter on the phone that night never thinking it would be their last conversation.

"I was working and I said, 'when I get off I'm going to come and spend the night with y'all,' " said Lee who added that Devon was a happy toddler and was really looking forward to Christmas.

"Everything that came on TV, Toys R Us, he said 'I want that, I want that'," said Lee.

Lee would have celebrated her one year anniversary with the state's Department of Corrections in mid-December, according to department spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger. Lee was a dormitory officer at the South Florida Reception Center on N.W. 41st Street.

Warden David Harris told CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "This is a sad day for the South Florida Reception Center. It hits home hard. She was in law enforcement for the state of Florida and she was supervising some of the most hardened criminals in the state of Florida and for her to be a victim of such a crime, it hits home hard."

Harris said Lee was an "outstanding employee" with a "great sense of humor" and a "dedication to detail."

"She was like a butterfly," Harris said. "She could lighten up a room. This was like losing a family member. There was no indication that this crime was related to her job in any way."

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