Opa-locka Man Gunned Down In Ambush
MIAMI (CBS4) – An Opa-locka man died in a hail of gunfire Sunday night.
Family identified the victim as 25-year-old Christopher Smith, the father of a 7-year-old girl and an aspiring rap artist.
Smith was in the parking lot of his apartment complex on NW 135th Street and 26th Court in Opa-locka, just steps away from his front door, when his family claims he was ambushed.
"I got a call last night while I was asleep saying something had happened to my brother. I seen him out there, he was covered up, it was bad," said Smith's brother Ahie Smith.
Ahie Dawson said his son was ambushed and shot at more than 60 times.
"What did you kill him? He don't bother nobody, I don't know what they shot him for," said Dawson.
Smith's family said he was heading out to the store around 11 p.m. when he was gunned down.
"I actually heard the shots and when I came to the door the neighbors were screaming," said Dawson. "I saw him scrunched over bleeding, very devastating."
Police carefully marked the dozens of shell casings which littered the ground. They also noted where bullets had struck buildings and cars. Witnesses said they saw at least two people running away after Smith was shot.
"They put a dagger in me and my brother's heart," said the victim's uncle William Dawson. "How many people they going to execute like this and think they gonna get away with it? If you know who these killers are, turn them in... Somebody has got to bring these guys to justice."
"He was a real nice guy, he loved music," said Smith's friend Aaron Smith. "I'm sad to see him gone. I feel, I'm just at a loss for words for his family right now."
Smith's family wants those responsible for his murder brought to justice.
"How many people are the gonna ambush like this and think they are going to get away with it," said Dawson.
"That was a coward's act and you just need to turn yourself in," said Ahie Dawson.
Based on the number of rounds fired, investigators believe there was more than one shooter. If you have any information, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS.
