Miami teens face charges in fatal shootings of 2 boys
OVERTON, Fla. -- A teen has been charged with murder, and another is expected to be charged, in the deaths of two boys, ages 10 and 16, in a shooting nearly five months ago.
Ernest Rowell, 18, was charged with first-degree murder Saturday. Miami police said they also have a warrant for the arrest of a 15-year-old who will be charged in connection with the deaths. Authorities say they used shell casings to link the teens to the murders of 10-year-old Marlon Eason and 16-year-old Richard Hallman.
Eason was shot in the head on March 24 while on his porch retrieving a basketball, reports CBS Miami. Hallman was gunned down less than two hours later, and about a mile away, during what police believe was a fight over drugs.
Members of Eason's family told CBS Miami that they were relieved to hear about the arrest of Rowell, also known as "Woo" in the neighborhood.
"At least now we have a face behind the gun," said Richard Ruffin, Eason's uncle. "It's not closure. It's an arrest. But we're hoping that we get justice later on in the process."
Eason's grandmother, Dorothy Ruffin, told CBS Miami that she was wearing sunglasses, because her eyes were swollen from crying.
"Merv was a good child. My baby shouldn't have died like he died playing basketball," Dorothy Ruffin said.