BSO searching for suspect after 13-year-old girl shot and killed in North Lauderdale
FORT LAUDERDALE - The Broward County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday was searching for a suspect after a 13-year-old girl was shot and killed Monday night near Silver Lakes Middle School in North Lauderdale.
The girl, who was identified as Samyiah James, was flown to a local hospital where she died around 11:30 p.m., according to a written statement from the sheriff's office.
Investigators received word of a shooting near the 7400 block of SW 12th Court, just about a block from the school, just before 10:30 p.m. Monday.
The deputies found Samyiah at the scene suffering from a gunshot wound.
Deputies immediately began life-saving measures and North Lauderdale Fire Rescue paramedics arrived and took over.
CBS News Miami's Peter D'Oench spoke with her grieving mother, Lolita Catis, who said her daughter was a seventh-grade student who was known for her generosity and like to sing.
"She meant the world to us. So much to us," Catis said while fighting back tears. "They just took my baby away. My baby did not deserve this. She never did anything to anybody. They just took her life away. I didn't get any sleep. It hurts so much. When I closed my eyes it was like she was right in front of me, always."
A friend said the teenager was visiting her and was shot outside her apartment during an argument.
"She was very sweet and such a kind daughter," Catis said. "She was sweet. She was always there for me and always offered to cook for me. She would do things without me ever asking her to."
Kamya Callins, a friend of the slain girl, was struggling to cope with the death.
"She was such a good girl," Kamya said. "She loved school. She was real smart. She wanted to get out of here and make something of her life. I feel sick about what happened. She was the only girl I liked to talk to. She was so young. She was only 13 years old. She had a lot to live for."
Investigators did not immediately say if they had any leads that could prompt an arrest.
A reward of up to $5,000 was being offered that could lead to an arrest. Anyone with information about the shooting was urged to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.
"If you know anything please come forward and if you were involved turn yourself in," Catis said. "Please because my daughter did not deserve this, not at all. She didn't deserve this and now we are all in pain. My whole family is suffering."
