A 14-year-old boy was arrested by Miami police in connection with a double shooting that occurred earlier this month, authorities confirmed Wednesday.
He was identified by police as Samas Marcellas Williams.
According to his arrest report, the shooting occurred just before 1 a.m. on Oct. 11 in the 100 block of Northeast 77th Street.
City of Miami police said officers responded to the area after receiving two ShotSpotter alerts and found two men who had been shot.
Police said one of the victims was pronounced dead at the scene by Miami Fire Rescue personnel and the other was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition.
Loved ones identified the man who was killed as Robin Hernandez, 35, a father of three from El Salvador, and the other victim as his friend, David Pichinte, 32.
Witnesses said Pichinte, 32, attempted to disarm the shooter, who was wearing a mask and approached them, asking for something.
“Robin worked in construction and was always known as a good father and a good person. He never had any problems with anyone,” Nury Fernandez wrote in a GoFundMe page, adding that one of his kids was still in El Salvador and two lived in Miami.
Marlin Fernando said the shooting happened after the suspect approached him, his brother-in-law and a friend, asking for a drink.
Fernando said the shooter fired at Hernandez even after he had fallen to the ground. He thinks the gunman shot at Hernandez six times, but police nor the Medical Examiner’s Office had yet to confirm that. Ring video from a neighboring building shows some of the witnesses running after the shooting.
According to the arrest report, Williams was identified after detectives reviewed surveillance video which showed him leaving his home, going to the scene of the shooting and then returning to his house.
Police said during the investigation he was also linked to a strong-arm robbery.
“He kind of confessed to it, but we didn’t need anything from him. We have the firearm. He did talk to us with a guardian present, and he’s going to be facing the rest of his life in jail,” police said.
Williams was detained at his home Tuesday night and transported to the MPD Central Station.
Residents were shocked to learn the suspect was so young. “They said he was young, but being 14 is just crazy,” a neighbor said.
According to the report, the teen provided detectives with a statement, but the statement was redacted from the publicly released report.
After being interviewed, Williams was booked into jail early Wednesday morning on charges of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.
During Williams’ appearance at a Miami-Dade Children’s Courthouse detention and shelter hearing, a judge signed a stay-away order for the victim. A judge said he will remain in secure detention as the case progresses.
A motive for the shooting has not been released.
Williams is scheduled to return to juvenile court on Nov. 12.
Police said they were unsure where the gun used in the shooting came from and believe the 14-year-old suspect may be linked to other crimes. They are urging anyone with information to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
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Source: local10
