Family Relieved After Arrests In King Case
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The family of a 6-year old killed in crossfire is grateful for the new development in their son's case.
On Wednesday, Miami-Dade Police announced they had two people in custody in connection to the death of King Carter - 17-year old Irwen Pressley or 18-year old Leonard Adams. One person remains at large.
"They did the right thing before the streets take its course," said King's father Santonio Carter.
The arrests are a triumph for Miami-Dade Police who had the backing of the State Attorney amid mounting political pressure from community leaders and activists during multiple rallies.
"It was community people working with people who led to this arrest today," said State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.
Anti-violence activist Tangela Sears was pleased by the arrest, and believes community pressure on police helped.
"I think if they continue with the aggressive investigation they did on this case, with some of the other cases, they'll be able to arrest more and bring more. Families suffering will receive the justice they deserve," said Sears.
Related: Teens Charged In King Carter Death Case
Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho has also been vocal about the violence plaguing children in our community. He says cooperation between government entities and organizations is key.
"We need to augment after school programs. We need to engage in early identification, detection of problems impacting our kids and address with the appropriate resources," said Carvalho.
Carvalho praised police for the arrests but also emphasized that school children continue to be victims.
"Since that murder there have been three shootings in Miami-Dade impacting young people, and the vast majority of the murders of the 24 young people who were killed over the past 12 months have not yet been resolved," said Carvalho.
Mayor Carlos Gimenez says he is working with the State Attorney on programs to stop children at a younger age, before they begin a life of crime.
"We're not gonna tolerate this in this community. We mean what we say. There's some new initiatives we're going to take in terms of how we're going to be dealing with this in the future to help make Miami-Dade County a much safer place," said Gimenez.
Some leaders, including Fernandez Rundle have raised concerns about cuts to community policing programs.
Mayor Carlos Gimenez acknowledges Miami-Dade Police Department cut their tactical narcotics team and made changes to the gang unit, but he says it was needed.
"Part of community policing is how does the community want to be policed?" He added, "We do strategic, surgical arrests."
The murder of 6-year-old Carter in broad daylight on Saturday afternoon prompted days of demonstrations. The first grader was shot and killed while going to a store for candy from his apartment building near northwest 12th Avenue and 103rd Street.
A funeral service for King Carter will be held on Saturday.
