FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Fort Lauderdale Police Department’s Homicide Unit could be one step closer to finding the culprit or culprits responsible for the shooting death of a 3-year-old boy over the weekend.
According to police, a 2024 red Mercedes-Benz C300 and a 2017 black Mercedes-Benz C300 were recently recovered in connection with the fatal shooting of Rylo Yancy.
Investigators said Rylo was attending a 1-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,” Chasity Fort, Rylo’s 8-year-old cousin told Local 10 News at a press conference held by Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis on Wednesday.
This incident follows another deadly mass 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.
Rylo’s loved ones and members of the Fort Lauderdale community gathered Friday night for a vigil to honor the toddler’s life.
“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.
Broward County Crime Stoppers has increased the reward to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of the culprit or culprits.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Detective Juan Rodriguez at 954-828-6673, the Homicide tipline at 954-828-6677, or remain anonymous by calling Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.