NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. – As an 18-year-old teenager was walking along the sidewalk on Northwest 54th Street near 5th Avenue, a woman saw a black Honda Civic screech by. She started streaming the scene live on Facebook when she thought the Civic hit the pedestrian and took off.
The witness, who didn’t want to be identified, told Local 10 “At first I thought he was hit by the car and then someone said, ‘No, you ain’t hear them gunshots? So, I said, ‘Oh, he’s been shot.’ "
Family identified the victim as Garry Laguerre. After arriving at the scene right near the Bawa Food Market, Miami police officers found the victim sitting in the middle of the street suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Witnesses told detectives it appeared to be a drive-by shooting and the gun used may have been a high-powered weapon. The shooting happened around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The witness said she quickly realized she wasn’t seeing someone hit by a car, but a multiple shooting. “(He was shot) in his side, his back, he was shot like 5 or 6 times.”
Paramedics and police did all they could to try and save Laguerre.
"It didn't look good. I ain't ever seen nothing like that before," said the witness.
Laguerre was rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center, where he later died.
Police searched for hours from both the air and the ground looking for any sign of the shooter. Witnesses also said that there was a large group of people walking when the car drove by and someone inside opened fire. Investigators are working to determine if Laguerre was the intended target or if he was caught in the crossfire.
On Wednesday, police obtained surveillance video from outside the convenience store and investigators are hoping that gives them some leads as to who is responsible for the murder. They are also urging the public for help.
Anyone living in the area who may have information about the shooting is urged to call Miami Police. Police said the vehicle is a four-door black Honda Civic and there may be bullet holes on the side of the car.
The witness has advice: “That’s the only way we solve all of this. The racism. The killing of each other. Everybody has to be held accountable. If you see something, say something. That’s the only way it’s gonna stop.”