MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Three shootings, two murders, one injured, and no arrests.
That’s the reality for families linked to the Cedar Grove apartment complex in Miami Gardens, where three violent crimes have marred the community in less than a year.
The families of Edward Dixon and Taborez White, two men who were fatally shot at Cedar Grove last year, came together Wednesday to plead for justice.
Joined by their attorneys, the families asked the public and authorities for help in finding the people responsible for the deaths of their loved ones.
In addition, they’ve filed negligent security lawsuits against the owners and property managers of the complex, alleging a failure to act on the history of crime at the property.
Investigators said Dixon was visiting a friend at the apartment complex on Jan. 4, 2023, when he was gunned down on the property.
Just six months later, police said White, a Cedar Grove resident, was outside his home when he was also shot and killed. Despite the devastating losses, no arrests have been made in either case.
Authorities also confirmed a 19-year-old Cedar Grove resident, who has asked not to be identified, was seriously injured when he was shot inside the complex on Dec. 31, 2023.
“Our son was in the prime of his life when he was ripped from this earth and from us,” Dixon’s father said in an emotional plea. “He would have turned 21, and instead of celebrating his life, we are left speaking about his memory.”
The families, alongside their attorneys, expressed hope that raising awareness and working together can lead to a safer environment for those still living in the Cedar Grove community.
“We hope that our combined efforts will foster a safer environment for those in this community,” said a family member of one the victims.
The lawsuits accuse Cedar Grove’s management of failing to take adequate steps to ensure the safety of residents and visitors, despite a history of violent crime in the area.
The families claim that Cedar Grove’s property manager didn’t believe there was a security problem following all three shootings.
An attorney representing both families said, “It’s incumbent upon the property managers to look at the history of crime and act accordingly.”
Local 10 News reporter Annaliese Garcia inquired about whether Cedar Grove has implemented any security changes since the shootings, but the apartment complex has yet to respond.
Anyone with information about any of the three shootings is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.