MIAMI – Two men were killed and seven other people were injured Tuesday in an early-morning shooting in Miami's Liberty City neighborhood.
The mass shooting occurred across from the Liberty Square public housing complex shortly after 2 a.m.
One person was pronounced dead at the scene. Family members identified the victim as Kevin Richardson, 29, the father of a 6-year-old boy.
"He was somebody's son. He was somebody's father," Richardson's aunt, Bennae Robinson, told Local 10 News. "If you know anything, come forward and say something because this can be your child."
Several others were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where another person died. Family members identified the victim as Nakeil Jackson, 26, the father of three children.
Miami police spokeswoman Frederica Burden later confirmed their identities. In all, she said, nine people were shot.
Witnesses told Local 10 two men appeared across the street from the complex and opened fire.
More than 50 shell casings were found at the scene.
Miami police Maj. Delrish Moss said even in an area notorious for violence, the shooting "stood out because of the sheer amount of people who were shot."
A police officer who spoke with Local 10's John Turchin said he expects more violence to follow.
"You think this is it?" he said. "There's going to be a retaliatory shooting in the next week or so. It might be tonight. This is all gang-related."
Shortly before noon Tuesday, Sky 10 was above the scene as a Miami police officer removed two guns from a Sponge Bob Square Pants backpack on the roof of a house not far from the shooting scene.
It turns out a man who ran from police after he left his identification behind during the shooting was seen tossing the backpack onto the roof. Police handcuffed that man, but detectives determined he wasn't involved in the shooting.
Police were awaiting ballistics results to determine if the guns found in the backpack were used in the shooting.
Meanwhile, family members of the victims arrived at JMH throughout the day, waiting for updates on their conditions.
"It's not nothing new. You know, it happens all the time," Greg White, whose nephew was shot, told Local 10. "But it's sad that it has to happen."
A mom in grief collapses in tears Tuesday afternoon near a make-shift memorial at the scene of an early morning shooting in Liberty City that left several dead.
Felicia Mans, whose nephew was killed, said she hoped the shooter or shooters were brought to justice.
"Whoever it is needs to be caught 'cause your family (is going to) go through the exact same thing our family going through -- exactly," Mans said.
One of the victims in the shooting recalled the ordeal from his hospital bed in an exclusive interview with Local 10's Glenna Milberg.
Devon McNeal said he saw the shooters in a beige Ford Taurus, so he hid under the stairs.
VIDEO: Liberty City shooting victim speaks to Local 10 News
"They got them pretty good because they kept shooting," McNeal said. "Everybody (was) yelling. They (were) running."
Police don't believe the intended target was at the complex at the time of the shooting.
"Enough is enough," Mans said.
Mans said residents need to quit staying quiet when it comes to the violence that has plagued their community.
"If I know who it is, I swear to God I would tell on your grandma, and that's for real," she said.
No arrests have been made.