Police Investigate Double Shooting In Opa-Locka
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OPA-LOCKA (CBSMiami) – Miami-Dade Police Department homicide detectives are investigating a shooting in Opa-locka Tuesday that left one man dead and another injured.
"I usually make a phone call and check on him every day, and as I got up to do that, I got a phone call telling me he got shot," said Gina Presley, speaking of the murder of her nephew Tavares Fullington.
Fullington was shot to death in the middle of the day outside an Opa-locka convenience store near 2100 Lincoln Avenue.
"He was always friendly, always a friendly person. Give you his last," she told CBS4's Natalia Zea.
Fullington was just 29 years old, married and the father of a 3-year-old girl.
"I just don't understand why this happened to him. I don't understand," said another aunt, Andrew Young.
Tavares' father broke down moments after seeing the yellow tarp covering his son.
"I can't keep myself together. Because I like raised him, when he was small he always followed me, I took him from his mama and he followed me every footstep," said Presley.
Tavares' family members have heard their loved one was shot in the face, and that he pleaded for mercy.
"They said he was begging for his life and they just shot him," said Presley.
Another man was also shot at the store. Police have not identified him. He is in critical condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Eric Readon, a local pastor, did not overlook the irony that as President Obama spoke about gun violence in our country as Tavares was taking his final breaths.
"It's just sad and sickening. The no-snitching policy needs to stop. Somebody in this community saw something and needs to step up, because it's this family's day today but it could be your family's day tomorrow," said Pastor Readon.
Detectives are now taking a look at surveillance video inside the convenience store, hoping it will give them a lead on the identity of this killer.
Friends of Tavares said they want to see it as well, to see the face of the person who took his life.
If you have any information that can help police, please contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).
