Carvalho: Code Of Silence Needs To Stop In Teen Shooting Deaths
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) — Miami-Dade Police say they are looking into whether the shooting death of a Miami student is connected to other shootings including one on I-95 this week.
Two local pastors are organizing a Friday morning vigil at Miami Northwestern Senior High school, which has lost four students to gun violence in the past six months.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho stopped by the school Thursday to console students, teachers and administrators.
"I am saddened by the fact that they referred to what's happening in this community as the equivalent of terror in the streets," said Carvalho.
Carvalho told CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "As one teacher told me, losing one child extinguishes the reason why we show up for work. She cannot teach if the child is not there. That is a heartbreaking statement. Teachers and parents are running out of tears of consolation for boys and girls."
They were strong words from Carvalho after 15-year old Johnny Lubin, Jr. was shot and killed while walking home from school on Wednesday afternoon.
The 9th grader lost his life in a drive-by at NW 77th Street and 14th Avenue just before 4 p.m.
"This is the seventh shooting in six months, impacting a child from Northwestern Senior High School. Four of them unfortunately didn't make it," said Carvalho. "The senseless..cowardly attacks that are chipping away at the soul of our community must come to an end."
Northwestern Senior High School student Joewuan Coles lost his life on May 15th and Maurice Harris was killed on September 8th and Randall Robinson lost his life on September 11th.
D'Oench also spoke with the Rev. Eric Readon of the New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church of Miami Gardens and the Rev. Billy W.L. Strange Jr. of Mt. Cavalry Missionary Baptist Church.
Readon said, "Our concern as community leaders is that we need to put an end to this. This has got to stop now or we are going to have a very bloody Christmas and a very bloody Thanksgiving and an even bloodier New Year."
Rev. Strange said, "There seems to be a problem where young people do not have any outlets to release their frustration and anger. I think we need to let them know we are there for them. This is heartbreaking. Just imagine the pain the families and friends are going through."
All this as Lubin's mother Julie Examar mourns the loss of her son.
"Word's don't even describe this feeling right now," she said. "He was a very outgoing kid and he loved to play football. Everybody loved him."
While students are sad, some are numb.
"It's not going to be the last one either, so even though I feel sad, like, like come on, it's through us," said 10th grade student Janet Tompkins.
Tenth grader Garland Henry said, "I can't believe this. This is like wow, another shooting and this happened near my home."
Keion Green, a 9th grader, said, "He was a good funny person. He did nothing wrong."
"I do think that parents in the communities should take a greater level of responsibility in ensuring that kids are either home, at a safe park, at a community center engaged in positive activities," said Carvalho."Secondly, there's got to be a disruption to the code of silence that exists in these communities. There are people out there who know who did this. And they have got to speak out."
"We need to stop all this foolishness, killing innocent teenagers for no reason," said Examar. "I want to say to the person who did this that they need to come forward."
As for the investigation, Miami-Dade Police do not have a description of the car or the shooter in the drive-by. Anyone with information is urged to call Miami-Dade Crimestoppers at (305) 471-TIPS. There's a reward of up to $3,000 for information that leads to an arrest in the case.