MIAMI – One of three suspects allegedly responsible for a mass shooting at El Mula Banquet Hall in May now faces charges including over 20 counts of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder — and he will be held on no bond.
Warneric Buckner, 20, was booked into jail on Wednesday. On Thursday, he faced a Miami-Dade County judge. He faces three counts of first- degree murder, as well as over 20 counts of attempted first-degree murder with a deadly weapon. He also faces another charge, where he was given a bond of $10,000.
“These are serious charges, and I believe the state may be seeking the death penalty on this,” said Miami-Dade Judge Mindy S. Glazer.
According to police, Buckner is one of the three gunmen who opened fire on a crowd outside the banquet hall on May 30 during Memorial Day weekend.
His arrest warrant states that Buckner agreed to speak with detectives Wednesday and confessed to meeting with other people involved in the shooting before they all drove to the banquet hall.
Police said Buckner identified himself as the front right passenger of a white Nissan Pathfinder that was captured on surveillance video outside of the banquet hall.
According to the arrest report, the video shows him getting out of the car and firing into a crowd of people.
“He further stated that he was armed with a large firearm, bigger than a Draco (which is a type of assault rifle) and fired into the crowd but could not recall how many shots he took,” the report stated.
Three people were killed, and 20 others were injured in the shooting. The victims who were killed in the shooting have been identified as Desmond Owens, Clayton Dillard, Jr. and Shaniqua Peterson.
Last month, police arrested 22-year-old Davonte Barnes for his alleged involvement in the shooting. Barnes was acting as a lookout for the three shooters, police said.
According to his arrest report, Barnes told detectives that one of the subjects involved in the shooting wanted one specific person killed who was supposed to attend a concert that was being held at the venue. Barnes said he then reported back to the group whether that victim was at the location before the rest of the group arrived, authorities said.
Police have not released the identity of the victim who was being targeted by the group.
Buckner faces three counts of first-degree murder and 20 counts of attempted murder, according to jail records.
He appeared in court Thursday and was ordered held without bond. The judge also ordered that he not have any contact, directly or indirectly, with the surviving victims in the case.
Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.