Local News

MIAMI (CBS4) ― Miami Police John Timoney says his officers are aggressively looking for the gunman or gunmen who shot four teenage classmates on Monday night in Liberty City. But he says his department needs help from the public. He wishes more people with tips would call police or Miami-Dade Crimestoppers.

"We know people are out there who know something," said Timoney. "We want them to call. We can guarantee their anonymity."

Timoney made those comments in a one-on-one interview with CBS4 News just before a community meeting and brain-storming session with ministers and activists inside the Jordan Grove Missionary Baptist Church, which is coincidentally just three blocks south of the drive-by shooting that happened in the 1200 block of Northwest 62nd Terrace.

"We need to express outrage about the senseless violence that is going on," said Timoney. "I'm not against the second amendment, but there has to be a way to limit access to guns. There's no way kids this young should be able to get access to weapons."

Timoney made that proposal at the church meeting. And the Rev. Jerome Starling, an activist who also preaches at the church, said he planned to meet with the Superintendent of Miami-Dade schools next Wednesday about his proposal. Starling is proposing a year-round school program in which musicians including rappers, prominent athletes, community leaders and other role models who visit Miami-Dade schools and speak to impressionable students about the need to stay away from guns.

He also says the gun-related education should also encourage students to give other students a chance. "The kids are hating on each other," Starling said. "They need to stop their hating. And stop their animosity. They need to get involved with peace and love and happiness."

"We can't wait until people start shooting each other," said Starling. "We need some prevention. Prevention is getting involved beforehand."

Starling also said the schools need more "stray bullets programs." But he was particularly concerned about students' access to guns. "We need to get rid of those AKs," Starling said. And he was particularly concerned about what he called the "pork and beans" area stretching from Northwest 62nd to Northwest 71st street and from Northwest 12th Ave. to N.W. 17th Ave.

Some activists have called for more citizens' patrols in that neighborhood, which has 21 gun-related deaths in the past decade. "We have a very active citizens' patrol in the Model City area," said Chief Timoney. "Could we use more patrols? Absolutely."

Timoney also said more education was needed for students and more financial support for Corrections statewide, as rehabilitation of criminals was also vital.

Both Timoney and Starling called for a stronger bond between police and the community. "People in the community need to get more involved with stopping crime," said Starling. If the parents don't get involved, there is no way we can stop the violence. There is no stopping crime if we can't stop the violence. Without cooperation from the community, it's hard to stop the violence."

"I plan to contact President Obama," said Starling. "And I hope we can get Michelle Obama down here in November to draw attention to this problem."

All four teenagers who were shot are still hospitalized at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Eighteen-year-old Thomas Williams remains in critical condition after surgery.

Sixteen-year-old Kendra Pratt is in serious condition. In an interview from her bedside on Tuesday, she told CBS4 News, "I've got to stay strong to fight and live through this."

Fifteen-year-old Haywood Hilton and 17-year-old Rakeem Reid were last listed in stable condition.

Police homicide detectives are looking for a gold, four-door Nissan with chrome wheels that fled the scene shortly after 10 p.m.

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