3 Arrested In Sweet 16 Shooting Just Before Town Hall About Gun Violence
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Miami-Dade police announced late Tuesday evening they have arrested three people in connection to shooting at a Sweet 16 birthday party that injured six minors.
Police identified the suspects as 20-year-old Travonte Berry, 18-year-old Dontavious Byrd and 18-year-old Michael Melon. All three are charged with attempted murder.
The news of the arrests comes as Miami-Dade officials scheduled a town hall meeting in Goulds amid concerns of gun violence after shots were fired into the group of about 75 minors at the party –- not once but twice.
The crowd erupted into cheers at the town hall meeting when Miami Dade Police Director Juan Perez announced the arrest of the three men. The mothers of four of the victims attended the meeting and thanked police and the community.
"I'm relieved. They caught the suspects that did it. I'm very relieved," said Tomeka Smith, who was hosting her daughter's Sweet Sixteen birthday party when the shooting happened.
"I'm just glad that they were able to capture those three that they got today and I just want to say their day is going to come," said Kedisha Wilson, whose son, Kiondae Wilson, continues to recover at the hospital.
Police say in total, six minors between the ages of 12 to 17 were shot. It happened Saturday at about 10:30 p.m. at a birthday party at a home off SW 119th Ave and 205th Street.
"It was so many babies out here just on the ground. The blood is still on the corner out on the sidewalk," said Smith. She said she was in the house making the kids something to eat when she heard the gunshots. "Before I can get to the door - I hear boom, boom, boom, boom," she said.
Among those injured was Smith's 13-year-old son who was shot six times. Witnesses said the shooters drove around and came back a second time - firing into the crowd again.
Smith insists her kids stay out of trouble and had nothing to do with the incident.
"I guess the company that was invited, knew something, probably got into it with something and brought the problem here," she said.
Smith told CBS4's Oralia Ortega that her son will have life-long medical issues. Two other boys remained at Jackson South on Tuesday.
Despite the arrests, Miami-Dade Police are asking anyone with information to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
