Mother Grieves 10-Year-Old Boy Killed In Nail Salon Shooting
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – For the first time since the shooting that killed her little boy, Aaron Vu's mother returned to the nail salon where her son was murdered. She leaned on family and friends until the grief was more than she could stand.
"To see her courage and her strength to come back here was amazing," said Nardine Dumas who cared for Aaron at her 24-hour daycare.
The last time Lein Ma was here, one week ago, two gunmen came into the nail salon to rob it. They shot her husband and her little boy. Hai Vu is recovering, but Aaron Vu, 10, died. Ma's family said she wanted to be here to thank the community for the outpouring of love.
"She's overwhelmed with gratitude, overwhelmed with heartfelt emotions and thanks from the bottom of her heart. It's very difficult for her to be here today but she was here," said Thi Pham, Aaron's Great-Aunt.
At a vigil Friday night, one week after the deadly shooting, family and friend prayed and shared memories of Aaron. Several Florida Highway Patrol Troopers arrived in a show of support.
Aaron's cousin Alex Ma, 10, remembered Aaron. "He was a good cousin he made me and the other cousins laugh," he said.
Pham said the family can't truly begin to heal until both gunmen are under arrest.
Miami-Dade Police have arrested Anthwan Ragan, Jr. in connection with the deadly armed robbery at a North Dade nail salon last week.
Ragan was taken to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in a white jumpsuit on his 19th birthday after a day of questioning by police.
He faces several charges including first degree murder with a firearm and armed robbery with a firearm for the hold-up and shooting that left 10-year-old Aaron Vu dead.
Pham felt some relief knowing police had someone in custody.
Ragan was arrested at a sister's home along Northwest 53 Street in Miami.
According the arrest form, Ragan tried to hide under the covers in a back bedroom.
When he was taken into custody, police said he was violent, prompting an additional charge of battery on a law enforcement officer.
Security video shows the robbers running out of the nail salon, but not before one last shot was fired.
Sources tell CBS 4 it was that final bullet that killed Aaron Vu.
"I ask every night in the hospital, 'Why, why why did this have to happen? Why couldn't it have just been me," the boy's father, Hai Nam Vu, questioned "They killed an innocent child."
Hai Nam Vu was also shot in the robbery.
In a wheelchair at Jackson Memorial Hospital, he thanked the community for the outpouring of love and support.
"I hope his death will not be in vain. I hope something comes out in the future that will reduce senseless acts of violence," Vu said. "No parents should have to go through the anguish we are going through."
A source tells CBS 4s Jim Defede, Ragan has been arrested before for armed robbery, but the state dropped the charges.
The source said officers from another jurisdiction also interviewed Ragan about another robbery.
Aaron Vu's family and friends hope justice will bring them peace.
"It means the family can have closure and we can start heal," Pham said.
Police have had a chance to review multiple angles of the security video.
An investigative source said, "When you see this video, it will make your blood boil."
He said the shooting was absolutely not provoked.
The source said that Ragan was not cooperating with police at this time and they still don't have a name of the second robber.
Police are asking the public to come forward with any information.
If you have any details that could help police, call Miami-Dade Crimestoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
Police said the information that led to Ragan's arrest came from an anonymous source.
