FLORIDA CITY, Fla. – A man has died after he was shot Tuesday evening in Florida City, authorities confirmed.
According to Florida City police Sgt. David Hunsberger, the shooting was reported in the area of Northwest 14th Street and First Court.
He said officers arrived at the scene, but did not find any victims.
A short time later, however, the victim who had been shot arrived at Homestead Hospital.
6 p.m. report:
Hunsberger said the man, identified as Johnny Stevenson Jr., 47, was then airlifted to Jackson South Medical Center, where he died in surgery.
Police are now searching for 22-year-old Kentarian Lamont Cross in connection to the shooting.
The Miami-Dade Police Department’s Homicide Bureau has since taken the lead into the investigation.
Miami-Dade Detective Angel Rodriguez initially told Local 10 News in an email that “the preliminary findings revealed a group of juvenile females were involved in a dispute regarding a previous incident, which escalated when an unknown subject produced a firearm and shot the victim, as he intervened in the dispute.”
Neighbors told Local 10 News’ Annaliese Garcia that Stevenson was the father of one of the girls and was shot while trying to intervene and protect his daughter.
The fight allegedly started on a school bus and made its way onto the street.
On Wednesday night, Miami-Dade Public Schools released a statement regarding the shooting, which read:
“Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) is aware of a video clip involving students from Homestead Senior High School engaging in an altercation on a school bus. The school’s administration is reviewing the matter, and the students involved will be disciplined according to the Code of Student Conduct. At M-DCPS, the well-being and safety of our students is of the utmost importance. This school district goes to great lengths to promote the values of restraint and respect as well as using social media responsibly. We ask that parents reinforce these principles at home.”
Stevenson’s family told Local 10 off camera that he was a loving father of 14 children, who was also known as Bobo.
Anyone with information about Cross’ whereabouts is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
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