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Jan 25, 2009 12:18 am US/Eastern
Liberty City Fed Up With Rise In Violent Crime
Anyone With Information Is Asked To Call Miami-Dade Crimestoppers At 305-471-TIPS.
18-year-old Derrick Gloster and 16-year-old Brandon Mills were killed in the attack
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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One of the nine victims shot was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital, January 23, 2009.
CBS
Miami police said they are on a manhunt for one person who escaped after shooting an assault rifle in the area of NW 70th Street and 15th Avenue. Seven people were wounded and two died from gunfire on a Liberty City street where men were playing dice Friday evening.
Liberty City neighbors are fearful and fed-up after the latest outbreak of violence.
On Saturday, Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and Police Chief John Timoney expressed outraged, and held a news conference in the vicinity of the shootings.
Chief Timoney confirmed the deaths of two males. 18-year-old Derrick Gloster and 16-year-old Brandon Mills were killed in the attack.
"He's not coming back. I loved my grandson, I loved him," Bertha Estina said to CBS4 Reporter Sharrie Williams. Her grandson, Derrick Gloster, was gunned down and now Estina says enough is enough. "It's wrong. It's wrong, it's wrong to take another life like that. Just shoot a person down like that."
Miami Detective Delrish Moss, referring to the investigation said, "Apparently the assailants came out to the corner and sprayed the corner with rounds." Detectives said dispatch received a call at about 9:45 p.m., and they believed it came from those people who ran back into their units after being injured.
Seven injured people, most believed to be in their twenties, were rushed to Ryder Trauma Center, according to police spokeswoman Kenia Alfonso, and one remains in critical condition.
Two people were left for dead outside a three-story apartment building in that northwest part of the city. When paramedics arrived, many of those who had been shot were lying in the street. Lt. Ignatius Carroll with Miami Fire Rescue said the scene was chaotic.
Community activists expressed frustration over the violent activitiy in the area. "People are going through changes, hating one another," said the Rev. Jerome Starling. "City of Miami has done a great job with the 'Pork and Beans' area, two blocks away. What has happened is you can't come outside of the area two blocks away when they're shooting on the corner."
Residents like Randy Batts want to see more law enforcement in the area. "I would like to see the commissioners or the people in charge of Dade County do something to stop this kind of violence from happening in my neighborhood."
But city leaders say the bigger problem is how easy it is for people with ill intent to get their hands on assault weapons.
According to the Miami Police Department, homicides involving high-powered weapons have drastically increased over the past four years. In 2005, three percent of the murders in Miami were committed with assault rifles. Last year, that number skyrocketed to 29-percent.
Miami police have not yet released descriptions of the man or men they're looking for, nor have they mentioned what was the motive for the shootings. Anyone with information is asked to call
Miami-Dade Crimestoppers at
305-471-TIPS.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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