MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – “He was a worshipper, the best dad ever.”
That’s how Lora Wakefield, through tears, described her son Dustin, who was shot dead while eating dinner with his family Tuesday evening on South Beach.
Wakefield, 21 and visiting from Colorado, was with his wife, his 1-year-old son and extended relatives when a gunman randomly shot him at an outdoor café at 14th Street and Ocean Drive.
Tamarius Blair Davis Jr., 22, of Norcross, Georgia, confessed to police that he was high on mushrooms when he attacked.
Lora Wakefield remained in shock the next morning as she spoke to Local 10 News.
“We saw miracles. We saw miracles together,” she said of her son. “His music, his music is amazing.”
Witnesses say Dustin was protecting his baby before he was killed.
“[The shooter] pointed the gun at the baby and [Wakefield] said, ‘That’s my son’ and then he pointed the gun at him,” witness Marquita Bradford said.
“He’s a proud dad. When his son grows up and hears about this, he’s going to forever love his dad — no matter if he’s there or not.”
The “best dad ever,” Wakefield’s mom says. A life lost. A son, husband and father gone. And a family shattered.
Two GoFundMe pages have been set up to support the family:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/dustins-family?qid=706b9aa6f1440ab2d70d225b89846371
https://www.gofundme.com/f/fundraiser-for-dustin-family?qid=706b9aa6f1440ab2d70d225b89846371
Uncle of Miami Beach shooting victim tell us: “All I can say is Dustin loved his family and loved and cared for all he met. He will be missed in this world. Dustin saved his son and his family.” #MiamiBeach #SouthBeach @WPLGLocal10 pic.twitter.com/0bNxqpwyuZ
— Janine Stanwood (@JanineWPLG) August 25, 2021