MIAMI-DADE, Fla. – A 6-year-old boy was killed Saturday in a drive-by shooting in northwest Miami-Dade County.
King Carter was a first-grade student at Van. E. Blanton Elementary School, his grandmother said.
His tearful aunt, Moniquna Frierson, was at Jackson Memorial Hospital drowning in grief. She described him as a playful and joyful boy. Wellyn Mason, his cousin, said King loved cartoons and sports. He was part of the "Warriors," one of the Liberty City Optimist Club football teams.
"He was a happy kid," Frierson said. "It ain't going to be the same without him."
Miami-Dade police and fire-rescue were called to reports of a shooting at an apartment complex at 1225 NW 103rd Lane about 2:40 p.m. A Miami-Dade Fire Rescue helicopter rushed King to the hospital.
Grieving relatives and friends of the boy's family were at Ryder Trauma Center, where doctors pronounced him dead. There were tears and women screaming in pain. King's dad, Santonio Carter, posted a video on Facebook asking for prayers.
Miami-Dade Police Director Juan Perez described the crime as "senseless gun violence."
Tawana Akins, King's aunt, used Facebook to beg witnesses to come forward.
"This has torn my insides out ... Too many people were out to not see anything," Akins said.
Detective Marjorie Eloi said King was playing with friends outside the apartment complex when two men stepped out of a dark, four-door sedan and opened fire. She said the gunman and driver then sped off.
"Right now, we're hunting for you, and if you're involved, you may as well turn yourself in," Perez said.
Perez was asking anyone with information about the shooting to call police or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477. Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said he was contributing $20,000 to increase the reward for information on the shooting.
"We need the community's help," Gimenez said.
Local 10 News Assignment Desk Editor Robert Alpizar was also updating this story.
