NW Dade Girl Brain Dead After Drive-By
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - A Miami-Dade father is fighting for his life after a weekend shooting in which his 8-year old daughter was shot in the head.
It happened Sunday afternoon just before 5 p.m. in front of a home at NW 25th Avenue & 102nd Street.
Police said a four-door black Ford Fusion, or Ford Focus, with at least two men inside rolled by and began shooting at the 32-year old man as he stood by his Jeep in front of the home. The man's daughter was up on the front porch.
"The child that was standing near the front door of the house took a round to the head," said Miami-Dade Police Director Juan Perez. "And it pains me to be here once again speaking about a small child, an innocent child, that has nothing to do with any criminal activity, has nothing to do with ongoing disputes and took a bullet that was not intended for her."
"As soon as we heard the gunshots, we ran inside," said one of the man's neighbors.
At Jackson Memorial Hospital, loved ones waited anxiously for news and prayed for the little girl and her father.
Family and friends have identified them as James and Jada Page. Shay Brown, a close family friend, told CBS4 the girl is brain dead with no hope of survival.
"We have no one but ourselves to blame, this is more black on black crime," said Brown.
Friends said James ran the family owned restaurant Rocket Seafood Market and Grill on NW 95 street.
"These tragic events need to stop. Look around, there's neighbors standing out here, kids playing in the front yard," said Perez. "Just like the child that was hit. Those bullets could've gone anywhere. Senseless violence within our community. It's been a quiet summer and now as school starts, we're gonna start up again. This is ridiculous."
It's a case that has leaders and a community mad.
"Back in the day, if you had a problem with me you stepped to me. I stepped to you," said Pastor Keith Butler. "Stop being cowards and stop doing what you're doing. put them guns down."
Strong words from Pastor Butler who joined city leaders and families who've been affected by gun violence.
The shooting inspired Monday evening's "Enough is Enough" rally.
"When does it end? As a community we need to come together and we are coming together to address this gun violence," said Perez.
Miami-Dade police spent Monday evening knocking on doors, stopping cars and passing out flyers with the car they believe the shooter was in.
Using funds from the "Stop Gun Violence Reward Fund," police have upped the reward for information leading to the killers' capture by $20,000, making the total reward up to $23,000.
This shooting was just the latest in a spate of shootings.
Last Thursday, an 18-year old was killed, her 17-year old cousin was wounded in a shooting in Liberty Square.
Saturday morning, at a wake for yet another young shooting victim, six people were shot, two were killed.
Anyone with information in any of these shootings is urged to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS.