1 Dead, Pregnant Woman & Fetus Hurt In Overtown Shooting
MIAMI (CBS4) - CBS4 has learned of another victim from a Sunday night drive-by shooting in Overtown that claimed one life and left a young mother fighting for her life.
That 3rd victim is the mother's newborn child.
The mother, Tiffany Davis, 26, was eight months pregnant and doctors at Jackson Memorial Hospital were forced to prematurely deliver her baby because she too was wounded in the shooting.
"The baby was shot in her left arm," said Phillip Milton, who is the baby's father and the boyfriend of Davis. "The bullet went through the mother's stomach and through the baby's arm. The baby is going to be ok. But she was born with a bullet wound in her."
Milton told CBS4's Peter D'Oench that he and Davis had named the girl Skyler. He said she is four pounds.
Police sources say it shows a sinister side of the latest drive-by shooting that is most likely tied to an ongoing "turf war" in Miami.
"It's just devastating. It is just devastating," Milton said. "I mean this in unreal. This could be you one day."
Milton spoke to D'Oench before he went to Jackson Memorial Hospital to visit his new child and spend time with Davis.
"She was an innocent bystander," said Milton. "She had nothing to do with this. She was just going to the store to pick up some food for the kids and go back home."
Milton said Davis has two other children, who are three and six. The shooting happened at a convenience store at Northwest 2nd Court and Northwest 17th Street, where Davis had worked until a few months ago and where Milton was working Sunday night when the shooting happened around 7:45 p.m.
"She came out of the store and someone started shooting," said Milton, who heard the shots. "She was shot once in the head and once in the stomach."
"She was talking to the other victim," said Milton. "She was a friend of him also."
Sources identified the young male who was killed as Rodney Durant. Police are not sure how many suspects were involved with the shooting and who the target was.
A vehicle was seen speeding from the scene. Witnesses told Milton that vehicle was a green mini-van though police have not confirmed that.
"This is a congested area and we urge people that if they know anything, they should call police," said Miami Police spokesperson Kenia Reyes.
"Say something," said Milton. "Don't be afraid to come forward. This could have been your kids out there. Kids come to the store all the time. This time it could have been anybody. Just come forward with information, any information at all."
"People go the store every day and we can't have them running for their lives because of a shooting like this," said Milton.
Alex Safi, the owner of the convenience store, told D'Oench that "She didn't have anything to do with this at all. She just bought stuff at my store and was on her way out. I feel sad for her, very said. She had other children and she was a sweet, hard working person. She used to stop by every morning and she worked her until just a few months ago."
"I just can't believe this has happened," said Milton. "She was such a cool person, a homebody and she loved her kids. Now I hope for the best but I just don't know what is going to happen to her."
Anyone who can help solve this case is urged to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).
