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 received a call about someone with a gun at a park. The teen was transported to a hospital in stable condition.
“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. Deputies say they found a gun near the 15-year-old after the shooting. The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office issued a be-on-the-lookout notice and approached four people matching the description from the initial call.
“We’re just grateful that nobody else got hurt and he’s in stable condition,” said Assistant Sheriff Fernand Charles. The confrontation led to the deputy shooting the teen, who officials say brandished a firearm during the encounter. Deputies recovered a firearm near the teen following the incident.
“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. All juveniles involved in the incident were taken into custody. The shooting location was in the area of Southwest 112th Avenue and Southwest 221st Street in southwest Miami-Dade.
Family members disputed the official account of events and demanded answers about the shooting. “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. She questioned why deputies approached the group in unmarked vehicles.
“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. “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.”
Darrell Collins identified the shot teen as his cousin and said his two grandsons were also part of the group that deputies confronted. “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 expressed confusion about the circumstances that led to the shooting.
Keisha Williams said deputies handcuffed her son, who was also with the group during the incident. “I’m very upset,” Williams said. “I feel so bad, I feel bad for the whole community over here.” The shooting drew a large police presence to the Goulds neighborhood, attracting concerned family members and residents to the scene.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said whether the 15-year-old will face charges like the other juveniles will be determined by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. FDLE has taken the lead on investigating the deputy-involved shooting. The investigation will examine the circumstances surrounding the confrontation and the deputy’s use of force against the teen.