FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis and Police Chief Bill Schultz held a press conference Wednesday morning to address gun violence in the city, including a drive-by shooting over the weekend that left a toddler dead.
In the span of two weeks, two toddlers have been shot in Fort Lauderdale, prompting city officials to declare that such violence will not be tolerated.
Trantalis, Schultz and Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Pamela Beasley-Pittman pledged to solve the recent murders and address the surge of shootings in the city. The event was held at Riverland Park, where 3-year-old Rylo Yancy was fatally shot while attending a birthday party.
The family of Rylo Yancy, devastated by the loss, spoke to Local 10′s Sanela Sabovic.
“They took my heart, they took my soul, they took a lot of people’s strength,” said Rylo’s grandfather, Jerrold Pough. “I want to say this... I already asked for forgiveness to who did this to my grandbaby. They don’t know how special he was to me, my family, the world.”
Rylo’s aunt, Beverly Isaac, tearfully pleaded for an end to gun violence.
“I didn’t know it would be the last time Sunday kissing Rylo,” Isaac said. “These people need to put the guns down. Please put them down!
Rylo was attending a one-year-old’s birthday party at Riverland Park on Sunday when two people in separate cars started shooting at each other. A stray bullet hit Rylo while he was on a slide. He was rushed to Broward Health Medical Center, where he died.
“He was with a little boy. He was going down the slide and it was a gunshot and it shot his eye and then my mom had him in his arms,” said Chasity Fort, Rylo’s 8-year-old cousin.
This incident follows another tragic shooting just two weeks earlier on July 8.
Five people were shot near a convenience store along Northwest 10th Terrace, resulting in the deaths of 38-year-old Tiarra Holliday and 45-year-old Sheldon Lawrence. Among the injured was Holliday’s 2-year-old son, Diego Henry, who was released from the hospital last week and now faces life without his mother.
No arrests have been made in either shooting. Authorities discussed the need for public assistance.
“Our police department and our law enforcement partners are working night and day to bring those responsible to justice, but they cannot do it without your help,” said Trantalis.
“We are following leads but really need help from the public,” Schultz said. “If you have any information that can help investigators, give us a call or remain anonymous by calling Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. There are cash rewards for information that leads to an arrest.”
Broward Crime Stoppers released a flyer on Wednesday stating that they will pay up to $10,000 for any information that leads to an arrest in connection with Rylo’s death.
Schultz said that over the last five weeks, Fort Lauderdale has experienced three shootings involving 11 victims, including two toddlers.
Crime Stoppers also announced they would pay up to $5,000 for information that led to the arrest or arrests in the shooting death of Michael “Kirby” McKinney Jr.
Authorities said McKinney, 33, was fatally shot just after 7 p.m. on June 14 while standing outside near the 700 block of Northwest 22nd Road.
.Detectives said a 2-year-old boy, who was shot and placed in a medically-induced coma during the fatal double shooting on July 8, has returned home and is recovering.
Trantalis said over 40 police officers were hired in Fort Lauderdale over the past year to “ensure safety in the community.”
“The Fort Lauderdale Police Department will not stand for these acts of violence,” said Schultz. “We appreciate all the tips and assistance from the public but please reach out if you have any information.”
Schultz also confirmed that over 150 guns were stolen in the city of Fort Lauderdale this year.
Anyone with information on the shooter or shooters in any of the cases is urged to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.
Local 10 News viewers can watch the press conference in the video below.