MIRAMAR, Fla. – A 17-year-old boy died and a 17-year-old girl was injured after a Sunday night shooting while they were both in a white car in Broward County, police said.
Detectives identified the teen who died as Johnnie Henderson, of Miami-Dade County. The driver’s side of the white Hyundai Sonata he and his girlfriend were in was riddled with bullets.
The teenage girl was at Memorial Regional Hospital and her condition was critical after the 8 p.m. shooting near the intersection of Riviera Boulevard and University Drive, according to The Miramar Police Department.
Coach Gregory Burton just happened to be at his job nearby when he heard the shots.
He coached the teen in football and in life.
“How you have to be tough and silent and let your actions speak for itself, and he was a great young man with that smile and that energy and that work ethic. He would’ve been somebody, he would’ve been somebody,” said Burton.
Loved ones told Local 10 News that Henderson was a junior at American Senior High School.
“Great person, great football player, athlete,” said Henderson’s friend and teammate Quran Burton.
“Who would do this to him and why?” asked Local 10 News’ Christian De La Rosa.
“I mean, that’s what we’re all wondering,” Burton replied. “I can’t grasp it either.”
Detectives are asking witnesses to come forward as they try to come up with a description of who opened fire and from which vehicle.
Burton called on the community to step up and reach out.
“I don’t stress this enough, that you as the adult must get out and get off the bleachers, get out,” he said.
Tania Rues, a spokeswoman for the department, said detectives suspect it was a drive-by shooting and need the public’s help to identify a suspect or suspects.
Detectives were asking anyone with information about the case to call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.