MIAMI – A man has died after being shot in the northeastern part of Miami late Friday morning, police said.
Witnesses are describing the shooting, which happened near the Little River and Upper East Side neighborhoods, as a drive-by.
Officer Kiara Delva, a department spokesperson, says officers responded to the 500 block of Northeast 78th Street, just west of Biscayne Boulevard, at 11:37 a.m. after a ShotSpotter alert.
Police officers identified the victim as Maurek Breedlove. He was 27.
“It seems like a random act of violence ... hopefully the person is found or turns themselves in,” His family pastor, Rev. Antonio Magwood, said.
Breedlove was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center for treatment, Delva said. He was later pronounced dead.
Friends, family and neighbors said a suspect pulled up in a car and began firing, shooting the man eight times before driving off.
“There was a dark-colored vehicle, possibly blue or black, but we’re not certain yet, but a dark-colored four-door vehicle with tape around one of the side view mirrors and possibly missing a mudflap,” MPD Assistant Chief Armando Aguilar said.
Miami police continued to scour the scene for evidence Friday afternoon.
“There’s a mother grieving as a result of this and I believe heaven is watching, God is watching and there needs to be something done about the gun violence here in Miami,” Magwood said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-479-8477.