Memorial service held for boy killed in drive-by shooting

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A memorial service was held Sunday night for a 7-year-old boy who was shot and killed in a southwest Miami-Dade drive-by shooting.

Friends and family gathered at a church in Richmond Heights to celebrate the life of Amiere Castro.

Police said Castro was struck in the head by a bullet Dec. 27 while he was sitting on the couch at a relative's home at Jackson and 152nd Streets.

Police said the shooting was between teenagers over a drug deal.

According to an arrest report, Castro's cousin, Michael Tobler, 19, and Dravein Duke, 19, got into an argument over a possible stolen gun during a drug deal at the home. Police said Tobler pulled a gun from his pocket and "shoved the muzzle into Duke's abdomen."

The report says Duke and his accused getaway driver, Maxwell Trewin, 21, drove away with two other men, and Tobler allegedly raised his gun and fired it about three times at the Dodge Ram truck.

According to police, the subsequent drive-by that killed Castro was an act of retaliation. Tobler denies any involvement.

"It's sad to have the kids involved in these types of things and (people) don't say anything about it until something like this happens," Lee A. Waters Jr., who attended the service, said.

On Monday, classmates of Castro's returned to Coral Reef Elementary School following the holiday break.

"We going to miss him. That was my baby," cafeteria worker Ursalina Davis said.

"It really hits home. I feel like these kids are an extension of me," parent Jeffrey Mitchell said. "I wold like to see every kid go home and come back."

Miami Dade Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho also stopped by the school Monday.

"Over the past year alone we have lost over 20 kids in Miami -- 60 have been shot...that is unacceptable," he said.

Duke, Trewin and Tobler were arrested last week. Duke and Trewin face charges of second-degree murder, while Tobler faces an attempted second-degree murder charge.