MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – The family of Bryan Herrera, a 16-year-old who was shot and killed while riding his bike in Miami in 2012, appeared in court Wednesday morning as the suspect in the case faced his formal arraignment.
Adrian Grimes, 30, who was indicted by a grand jury, was a no-show in the courtroom.
Grimes was arrested last month after a witness came forward, claiming to have seen the killing and recognized Grimes from prison.
Detectives said Herrera, a high school student, was robbed and fatally shot while riding his bicycle on Dec. 22, 2012. According to investigators, the only item taken in the robbery was Herrera’s cellphone.
For more than a decade, Herrera’s family has pleaded for justice.
On Wednesday, they expressed relief that progress had been made.
“I’m glad that it’s finally here -- that at least that’s a big heavy load on our back, knowing that this person was out there and just living his life without even worrying about Brian,” said Anabel Herrera, Bryan Herrera’s stepmother. “And now I’m happy that now Brian is on his mind.”
Herrera’s father, William Herrera, described the emotional toll the family has endured over the years.
“We have our days where we cry and we remember and we feel that we don’t have the power to overcome this,” he said.
The case, which had remained unsolved for 12 years, rattled the Miami-Dade community.
Jail records show Grimes is facing multiple charges, including first-degree murder.
Herrera’s family told Local 10 News that prosecutors initially indicated they would pursue the death penalty, but it remains undetermined at this time.