Police Searching For Suspect In Overtown Drive-By Shooting
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A hail of gunfire Sunday night in Overtown sent people scrambling for safety—five of them were struck by bullets.
One woman said her father nearly lost his life.
"I'm mad but there is nothing I can do about it. Just pray for my Dad and be by his side," said Antoinette Keaton, whose 54-year-old father Rodney Keaton was shot.
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She told CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "He was hit in the back and leg and on the chest a little bit. He is doing alright. He got out of surgery at 2:30 this morning."
All the victims of the shooting, who range from age 17 to 54-years-old, were rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital. The conditions of four of them have stabilized. A family member said one victim had been released.
Angel Pace told D'Oench his uncle was also victimized.
"I heard the shots and I came down here. I saw all of my friends laid out.It's sad. I can't even bring my daughter out here. It's enough of people keeping their mouth closed because that could have been your uncle," said Pace.
"You grind your brother, your Daddy. It could have been anybody. It ain't gonna stop. It's crazy," said Pace.
The shooting happened in Miami's Overtown district just after 6 p.m.
"We saw police cars coming and people running from everywhere and it was like utter mayhem and chaos," said Nicole Donald, a witness.
Police believe someone in the courtyard of an apartment building at N.W. 2nd Ave. and N.W. 13th St. was the target of the drive-by shooting.
"A black SUV drove by and opened fire on the five men that were standing there," said Officer Freddie Burden.
Two of the victims were taken to the hospital in serious condition but the others were well enough to help police with their investigation.
"We did get the vehicle information from one of the victims," said Officer Burden.
Family identified the youngest victim of the drive-by as 17-year-old Julian Bryant who was shot in the leg and arm.
"He's talking right now that's good. That's a good sign," said Horace Bryant, the victim's father. "He was hanging in the wrong place at the wrong time. That's all I could see it be."
The teen underwent surgery and is recovering at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Family is asking for the public's help to find the person or people responsible.
"Can you please just give us answers—we're begging you guys," said the victim's family.
Miami Police identified the other victims as Derrick Collie, 22, Marvin Lewis,23, and Deandre Benjamin, 27.
Police were not able to say if this incident was connected to another of the other recent shootings in Miami. They also said it was not clear what the motive was or what was being targeted.
They said the black SUV took off northbound on N.W. 2nd Ave. Police so far do not have a description of the shooter that they can release.
Investigators are also seeking help, asking anyone with information to come forward and call Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
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