MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A 17-year-old boy was undergoing surgery on Friday after fireworks exploded right on his face during a family’s Fourth of July celebration on Thursday in Miami-Dade County.
Tamike Braithwaite said her son, Lamant Braithwaite, suffered broken facial bones and brain bleeding. His uncle Marquis Hollinger said the fire lit fast. His aunt Nicole Roselien said they saw his clothes were on fire and they grabbed him.
Roselien said, he “had a gash on the side of his face” and “was burned on one side.” His mother said one moment he was healthy and the next he was running toward her on fire.
“Be safe out there,” his distraught mother said Friday outside of the hospital.
The teen was among three minors who were injured by fireworks during Fourth of July celebrations on Thursday night in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
A 13-year-old victim suffered burns to the hand while lighting up fireworks in Miami-Dade County, police said.
A 10-year-old boy hurt his fingers before his parents took him to HCA Florida Northwest Hospital in Margate for treatment, according to the Margate Police Department.
Stray bullets were also a problem. A 13-year-old boy and a woman suffered gunshot wounds with stray bullets during Fourth of July fireworks in Miami-Dade.
Detectives asked anyone with information about this or other cases to call Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.