Miami: MLK celebration ends with 8 people shot, Jerome Battle in critical condition
Eight people were shot Monday afternoon at a holiday celebration at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park in Miami. Many others were injured as the patrons raced around and stampeded over others to flee from the gunfire. One victim, Jerome Battle, is reportedly still in critical condition.
The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade had ended, but two hours later shots were fired, police explained, confirming that two people have been arrested, two weapons were quickly covered, but the circumstances of the shooting were still unclear.
“The shooting at the park, 6000 NW 32nd Ct., happened about two hours after the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade, an event that typically attracts hundreds, even thousands, to celebrate the slain civil rights leader,” the Miami Herald summarized. “The parade makes its way down Northwest 54th Street, eight blocks from 62nd Street — or Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.”
Crime Scene Tape photo/edited pic from FBI.gov
“The nature of the shooting, we don’t have information on that right now,” Miami-Dade Detective Marjorie Eloi told the Herald. “There was no gun exchange on our part.”
Cops evacuated and closed the park, where post-parade festivities have become a tradition.
Battle, 20, was in critical condition Monday night; the others were listed in stable condition.
“Right now they’re just saying he was shot in the leg and I’m hearing in the back,” said Cameron Beacham of Battle, her cousin, according to CBS Local news. Beacham said Battle was shot in the back and had to undergo two surgeries.
“He’s a student, good person, kind-hearted little cousin. I’ve been knowing him since young so he’s a really good person,” said Beacham.
Other victims were identified, mostly teens: Lajada Benson, 14, Nakya-Senat Butler, 15, and Alfanesha Timesages, 17 — all are in stable condtion; Michael Clarke, age 30, police have now confirmed as in stable condition.
Police said 11-year-old Ciara Johnson and 13-year-old Keionna Green were grazed and treated at the scene and released to their parents.
photo/ John Hain via pixabay
