Eyewitness Identifies Gunmen In Miami Teen's Murder
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – An arrest has been made in the murder of a teenager, gunned down in Allapattah last week while walking home with a friend.
Richard Thompson, 21, is charged with taking the life of 16-year-old Damien Ramirez. The teen was shot on the corner of N.W. 17 Avenue and N.W. 31 Street and rushed to the hospital, but did not survive.
"My son, now I will never get to see him grow up," said Ramirez's mother, Lissette Lantigua. "An ice of my heart."
Detectives said Thompson claimed he was in the area but was not the shooter. Investigators disagree.
"What makes this case so solid is an eyewitness came forward putting Thompson on the scene," said Ofc. Kenia Fallat with Miami Police.
Surveillance tape also backs it up, they said.
Less than a week later, Thompson was arrested at his apartment.
"When they went to arrest him at his residence, what they found was a shotgun just within arm's reach," said Ofc. Fallat.
A homeless man was also hit by the gunfire. Bullets pierced a window and walls of a nearby business. Police initially said Ramirez was confronted by two males.
"At this point any other information is welcome," said Ofc. Fallat.
Thompson was appointed a public defender, who may challenge the charge of first degree murder.
"There is nothing in this report to support 1st degree murder," the attorney said. "All it says is there was a shooting."
Records show Thompson's been arrested before for Grand Theft, Battery and Armed Robbery.
Being on probation, he wasn't supposed to be in possession of a weapon.
"The only thing we can give the family back is putting that person responsible for the shooting behind bars," said Ofc. Fallat.
