A Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputy shot a 15-year-old boy in the foot during a confrontation in a Goulds neighborhood, according to officials. The shooting occurred around 3:30 p.m. near Southwest 216th Street and Southwest 113th Avenue after deputies responded to a call about someone with a gun at a park. The teen was transported to a hospital in stable condition.
“We’re just grateful that nobody else got hurt and he’s in stable condition,” said Assistant Sheriff Fernand Charles. Deputies found a gun near the teen after the shooting, according to the sheriff’s office. The incident began when deputies received a be-on-the-lookout notice and approached four people matching the description of the suspects.
“They shot my nephew in the foot. I don’t know why this happened, what happened, but all I want is answers,” said Asia Spann, who identified herself as the boy’s aunt. Spann questioned the circumstances of the shooting, stating she arrived at the scene after noticing a large police presence in the neighborhood. She disputed the official account of events involving her nephew.
“I just got an update my nephew is doing well. I don’t know about no firearms or whatever. He didn’t shoot no firearms, shoot at the police, you know, to my understanding, but why did they just jump out and unknown cause, they just start shooting? That’s what I wanna know,” Spann said. The shooting location was reported by one source as Southwest 112th Avenue and Southwest 221st Street, while another source cited Southwest 216th Street and Southwest 113th Avenue.
“We need to make sure we’re mindful of what our children are doing day in and day out. 3:30 in the afternoon, a 15-year-old is walking around with a firearm is not acceptable by any means,” Charles said. Deputies took all the juveniles involved into custody following the confrontation. One source reported the teen was grazed on the ankle, while another stated he was shot in the foot.
“I want to know, why did they come in unknown cars, jump out and get to shooting?” Spann said. “I want answers.” She said she tried to gather information about the incident from people in the community. Darrell Collins, who said the teen shot is his cousin, expressed confusion about the circumstances.
“I don’t understand what’s going on, and I’m here to find out what’s going on because none of them get in no problems,” Collins said. “My cousin don’t ever get in any problems with nobody.” Collins also said his two grandsons were part of the group involved in the incident.
Keisha Williams said deputies put handcuffs on her son, who was also with the group. “I’m very upset,” Williams said. “I feel so bad, I feel bad for the whole community over here.” Williams’ son was among the juveniles taken into custody by deputies.
“They didn’t shoot no firearms, they didn’t shoot at the police to my understanding,” Spann said. “I can’t even express how I feel.” Family members gathered at the scene expressed frustration with the lack of information about what led to the shooting.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will take the lead on the investigation into the deputy-involved shooting. When asked whether the 15-year-old will be arrested like the other juveniles, the sheriff’s office said that decision will be up to FDLE.