OPA-LOCKA, Fla. – Miami Norland Senior High School is mourning one of their football coaches, Keon Smith, who was killed early Monday morning in a shooting in Opa-locka.
“On behalf of Principal Gaines-Miller, Coach Heidelburg, the Miami Norland Senior High School family, and the entire football team, we’d like to offer the family of Coach Keon Smith our deepest condolences,” the school posted to its Instagram page. “It was truly an honor to work alongside him as a coach, mentor, and leader. You will be truly missed in Viking Nation.”
A spokesman for the school district confirmed to Local 10 that Smith was the quarterback coach at Miami Norland for the last couple of years.
He said a crisis team was at the school Monday for staff members and students.
According to Opa-locka police, the shooting was reported around 12:50 a.m. Monday at the Mary Alice Brown apartment complex in the 2800 block of Northwest 132nd Street.
Police said officers arrived at the scene and found a man who had been shot.
He was later identified as Smith.
According to police, Smith, 49, was pronounced dead at the scene by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.
“I just jumped straight out of bed, ran to the scene and all I could see was my cousin lying on the ground, lifeless,” said Smith’s cousin Tabetha Dudley.
Local 10 News reporter Roy Ramos spoke with the family of the beloved coach, who say they are devastated by his death and are now urging the person responsible to turn themselves in.
“I couldn’t understand why someone would want to take his life because he is not that type of person,” said Dudley. “He is a good father, good coach, and a good husband. He is well-liked in the community and everywhere he goes.”
“Please turn yourself in. You took an innocent man’s life,” added Dudley.
“He was a great guy. He played a lot and was really playful. He always brought a good attitude to the team,” said Ronald Town, who was coached by Smith at Miami Norland.
Players reacted to the tragic news, saying they had just been with him.
“You guys had just had a tournament,” said Ramos.
“He left from there, and then the next morning, everyone heard about it,” said Town.
School district officials say they will have a moment of silence at Tuesday’s graduation ceremony for the Miami Norland senior class.
The Miami-Dade Police Department’s Homicide Bureau has taken over the investigation into the killing.
A motive for the shooting remains unknown, and police have not released any information about the shooter.
Anyone with information is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477. A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest.