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Grief in Florida City: Police arrest man, 18, accused of fatally shooting a 15-year-old boy

Detectives: Jeron Smith confessed to killing Homestead Middle School student

FLORIDA CITY, Fla. – Grieving relatives on Sunday were struggling to come to terms with a 15-year-old boy dying in a shooting just about a block away from his grandmother’s house in Florida City.

They identified the victim as Damarion Bailey. According to the Florida City Police Department, he was shot in the head on Saturday. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel pronounced him dead near Northwest 13 Street and Fifth Avenue.

Kika Bailey described her nephew Damarion, a Homestead Middle School student, as a “good kid” who had never hurt anyone.

“She needs justice for her son,” the grieving aunt said while standing next to Damarion’s mother.

Damarion Bailey was fatally shot in the head on Saturday in Florida City. He was 15 years old and a student at Homestead Middle School. (Courtesy photo)

Miami-Dade detectives accused Jeron Smith, who turned 18 years old in December, of fatally shooting Damarion. According to the arrest report, Smith confessed to the murder.

Detectives reported finding a 9mm gun hidden behind an air-conditioning unit at Smith’s apartment in Florida City.

According to Miami-Dade County Corrections and Rehabilitation records, correctional officers booked Smith, a convicted felon, minutes before midnight on Saturday.

Records show Smith was at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center facing a charge of second-degree murder with a weapon while he was out on felony bond on a weapons charge.

Detectives arrested Jeron Smith on Saturday for murder and he remained at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on Sunday. (MDCR)

According to the Florida City Police Department, Shot Spotter technology alerted them to the shooting. There were surveillance cameras where the shooting happened.

Detectives asked anyone with information about this or other cases to call Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.

Local 10 News Assignment Desk Editor Mercedes Cevallos contributed to this report.

Watch the afternoon report

Watch the Saturday report

Map of crime scene area


About the Authors
Terrell Forney headshot

Terrell Forney joined Local 10 News in October 2005 as a general assignment reporter. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, but a desire to escape the harsh winters of the north brought him to South Florida.

Andrea Torres headshot

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.

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