Police Seek Help In 6 Unsolved Miami-Dade Murders
MIAMI (CBS4) -- Loved ones and the Miami-Dade police are asking for the public's help in solving six murders and those pleas are being broadcast only on CBS4's sister station TV33.
Those pleas can be heard in a special "Crime Stoppers Miami" show that will be broadcast at 10 p.m. on Saturday night.
The show is a review of the first three episodes of "Crime Stoppers Miami" and features special Crime Stoppers re-enactments and comments from lead detectives as well.
One report focuses on the Sept. 16, 2008 murder of 49-year-old Broward Transit bus driver Michael Garland, who was killed while jogging on N.W. 152nd Terrace in Miami Gardens.
He was approached by several individuals and was shot in the back.
"Why would someone want to hurt him?" asked his sister Eugenia. "What has he done to you? Why won't the community come forward and say what I saw and what I heard?"
Nineteen-year-old Eric Pratt was shot and killed on May 6th, 2010 on a basketball court at Range Park on N.W. 62nd St. in Miami. Two men asked him if he had any marijuana. Then they pulled out firearms and executed Pratt on the court.
"I pray every night that whoever did this will get caught," said Katrina Pratt, the victim's mother. "I miss him."
Police and loved ones are also asking for help in the March 13th, 2010 murder of Luis Diaz, who was killed at a club where he worked as a bouncer on N.W. 22nd Ave. Jonathan Labrada is the prime suspect in this case, according to police.
On April 9th, 2010, Jesus Mejias was shot in his N.W. 171st Terrace driveway in Miami Gardens. He was shot twice and robbed of his jewelry.
Clues are also being sought in the July 14th, 2010 machine gun murder of 28-year-old Dwayne Whitehead while he sat in an outdoor stairway in his apartment complex in Miami Gardens.
And on November 4, 2010, 20-year-old Michael Beatty II was standing outside a neighborhood market at N.W. 15th Ave. and 60th St. in Miami, when a hit man jumped from a getaway vehicle with a MAC-10 machine gun. The hit man chased Beatty, fired at him repeatedly and killed him.
"The way they killed my child, it was horrible," said Beatty's mother Stephanie Wimberly. "It was in broad daylight. He didn't deserve it."
Crime Stoppers is sure there are witnesses to each of these crimes. Police say they must come forward.
Those who need help will be eligible for cash rewards of up to $5,000 and can remain anonymous.
The number for Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers is (305) 471-TIPS.
