OPA-LOCKA, Fla. – A 12-year-old girl and a woman, who were both bystanders, were injured during a shooting involving several firearms on Thursday night in Miami-Dade County, police said.
There was a fight, several people pulled out firearms, and a shootout ensued outside of an apartment complex near the intersection of Northwest 30th Avenue and Northwest 135th Street, according to the Opa-locka Police Department.
The shooting occurred right by a children’s playground, and now the little girl is bravely trying to recover from her injuries.
The 12-year-old girl is Makaylah Rolle, who was playing outside was shot in the lower leg, according to Assistant Chief Nikeya Jenkins. The girl required emergency surgery.
According to her mother, Levisha Johnson, she was shot in the right leg, and the bullet split in two and broke her bone. Now, doctors want to see if the bone will heal on its own with bullets inside. However, if that doesn’t work, her mom says the surgeons will have to go back in to insert screws and plates.
Her mother says Makaylah was playing with other children on the playground while she was at work when men started fighting and then gunfire.
She was discovered injured by her grandfather, Tony Burrows, who rushed outside as soon as he heard the gunshots. Thankfully, she’s recovering in the hospital.
Johnson described the moment she finally made it to the hospital after her 12-year-old had just been shot. She rushed to Makaylah’s side and broke down in tears right away.
Thankfully, Makaylah is recovering with a big cast, but the bullet is still inside of her leg. She’s going to start physical therapy to try and get her to start moving again.
Makaylah wasn’t the only person injured. A woman was inside of an apartment nearby when a bullet went through her glass window, and the shattered glass injured her face, police said.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel responded to 13448 Aswan Rd. and 13424 Aswan Rd., and took the girl and the woman to a nearby hospital. Jenkins said detectives are investigating the shooting.
Friday morning, police continued investigating and looking at surveillance footage to try to find answers for whoever was responsible.
Police say this all started because of a fight between several people.
This remains an ongoing investigation. No arrests have been made.
A GoFundMe page was created to help the girl’s family with her medical bills. A link to the page can be found by clicking here.