CBS4 Exclusive: Mother Of Miami Teen Gunned Down Speaks Out
MIAMI (CBS4) - The mother of a teenager who was gunned down Saturday afternoon is appealing for the public's help, saying her son was a "good student who never hurt anyone."
"Every mother who has lost a child, I feel your pain," said Tanya Larrimore. "And for those who have not, I don't wish this to happen to you."
In an exclusive interview with CBS4's Peter D'Oench, Larrimore said, "You might have taken my son from me in spirit but you will always be in my heart forever."
Her son, 16-year-old Marquise Brunson, was shot and killed Saturday in the Liberty Square Housing Development in the area of Northwest 62nd Street and Northwest 14th Avenue.
"Marquise was a sweet child. He was my first born. He was kind. He never hurt anyone and he was good in school and he never disrespected me and someone felt they could play God and take my son from me," she said.
"God is in control and has the answers to all of my questions and whoever is out there and know something, please come forward. Please don't let an important life be taken. And whoever it is who killed my son, remember God is watching," Larrimore said. "And what goes around will surely come around."
One witness at the Liberty Square Development told D'Oench that she heard 20 shots and said she saw a young person running away.
"I looked down and saw him running away," she said. "I don't know if he was being shot at and was a victim of if he was involved. "It sounded like, boom, boom, boom, boom."
"Whoever knows big twin, my son Marquise and whoever knows something, please, please come forward and bring closure to my son's case," said Larrimore.
Police have not released a description yet of the gunman and have not said what the motive for the shooting was.
They are asking for the public's help with this case.
Brunson was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
D'Oench also caught up with one of his cousins, his grandmother and an aunt.
"He and his brother always liked to be together," said his cousin, who identified herself as "Cleo." With tears rolling down her face, she said, "It was only by the grace of God that it was one person who lost his life, not two. He was a good kid and a good student at Ace Academy. And he loved football."
"This is an ongoing problems in the Pork and Beans and these kids are dropping like flies and no one is doing anything about it," said Brunson's aunt, Stephanie Larrimore. "We loved my nephew so much. We are going to miss him forever."
"He was a good kid who was always there for everyone," said his grandmother, Paulette Hill. "We are going to miss him."
The case appears to be a top priority for Miami Police. D'Oench noted that Sgt. Eunice Cooper, the head of the Miami Police homicide department, was at the crime scene speaking with detectives and on Saturday night, she spent time with Tonya Larrimore, consoling her and speaking with her about the case.
Activists including the Director of P.U.L.S.E. and the Rev. Jerome Starling and Miami City Commissioner Michelle Spence Jones also spent time Saturday night with Tonya Larrimore.
The Rev. Richard Dunn was at the crime scene as well, telling D'Oench, "It's horrible. People deserve a better quality of life. You have children who are afraid. This is unacceptable."
Sarah Smith, the tenant council President at the Liberty Square Housing Development, told D'Oench, "I'm devastated. We have people who are not even residents doing these shootings. It's like a battleground. I am worried about the safety of our kids."
Anyone who can help Miami Police with this case is encouraged to call them or Miami-Dade Crimestoppers at (305) 471---TIPS (8477).
