Multiple People Shot In Naranja Drive-By Shooting
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SOUTH MIAMI-DADE (CBSMiami) – Police stormed a southwest Miami-Dade neighbor after several people were shot in a drive-by on Wednesday.
According to police, the shooting took place at SW 139th Avenue and 264th Street around 8 a.m. in the area of Naranja.
Neighbors said four adult men were shot. They believe the shooting was a continuation of another shooting Tuesday night.
"I just heard the shots, they've been shooting since last night. You just hear it in the air from this corner to all the way over there," said Loretta Mathis. "It's just crazy, I don't know what's going on but it just needs to stop."
Video from Chopper 4 captured at least two people on stretchers being loaded onto a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue helicopter as they were airlifted to a hospital. Another two people were seen on stretchers being put into ambulances.
Area residents said they were sick and tired of the constant drug dealing, gang warfare, and shootings.
"I feel like there is nothing being done. If this would have happened yesterday, it would have been a bunch of innocent kids getting killed," said Latoya Jackson.
Police said the four men who were shot gave conflicting statements as to what happened and have not been very cooperative. Neighbors said they understand why.
"Where we're from it's either you are going to talk, cause you know something, but then you got to think about it, you got to think about if somebody is going to come back and get you at the end. Just for you opening your mouth," said Jackson.
A short time after the shooting, Miami-Dade police officers gave chase to a vehicle they believe was involved in the drive-by.
The chase came to an end when the suspects bailed out in the area of SW 250th Street and SW 120th Avenue.
Police spokesman Alvaro Zabaleta said a female was apprehended in the car. A male suspect put up a fight when was taken into custody near at townhome at SW 268th Street and SW 122nd Avenue. The driver remains on the run. Police believe all three were involved in the drive-by shooting.
A police perimeter encompassing several blocks was established. Officers are going street by street, and in some cases, yard by yard with K9s, to find the driver.
"What we do want to get across is that this area, the perimeter, is between SW 248th Street and SW 254th Street, from 123rd Avenue to 129th Avenue, that grid there is where we are doing the perimeter. We are asking residents to remain away from that area because obviously this individual is considered armed and dangerous," said Zabaleta.
Three schools were placed on a precautionary lockdown during the search. Those schools were Coconut Palm K-8 Academy, Air Base Elementary School, and Miami MacArthur South Senior High. As of noon, Air Base Elementary in Homestead was the only school to remain on lockdown.
