Police find vehicle, search for shooter who killed 3-year-old during birthday party at Fort Lauderdale park
FORT LAUDERDALE - Police say they have found a vehicle involved in the fatal drive-by shooting of a 3-year-old boy, who was killed while he was at a birthday party Sunday afternoon in a Fort Lauderdale park.
Police said they received word of the shooting at Riverland Park, 950 SW 27th Avenue, around 4:30 p.m.
When officers arrived, they found the boy at a pavilion decorated for a child's birthday party. He was rushed as a trauma alert to Broward Health Medical Center where he later died.
The child was later identified as Rylo Yancy.
Police confirmed Monday afternoon that Yancy was a victim of a drive-by shooting.
Authorities said the suspects fled the area immediately after the shooting. However, detectives said they identified, located, and found one of the vehicles involved.
"We walk this community every day and never heard of this," said Joan Goodin.
Goodin and Lillie Charles walked by the scene during their daily walk through the park Monday morning.
"My heart goes out to the mother because I lost a child, so I know how it feels," Goodin said.
"My heart has broken to see this and to hear about a child. An innocent child that knows nothing," Charles said
Terri Jeane took her kids to the park on Monday but left when she found out what had happened the day before.
"I don't wanna put my kids at risk," Jeane said. "I don't know what's going on in this particular community now. But when I was living here nothing like this was happening before."
As police search for a shooter, Goode and Charles want closure for the 3-year-old's family.
"It's just sad that our people can't get together and reason together. Come let us meet together. Don't have to be killing, don't have to be violence," Charles said.
Authorities said no arrests had been made. They are urging anyone who may have witnessed the shooting or have information to call Fort Lauderdale police.