Miami grieves gun violence victim 6-year-old King

3 arrests in fatal shooting, police look for black Lexus

MIAMI-DADE, Fla. – Surrounded by his favorite things -- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles -- and on the field where he played football, the body of a six-year-old boy was in an open tiny white casket.

Mourners lined up Friday to see little King Carter for one last time. Hundreds were there to give their condolences to the boy's dad, Santonio Carter, who said he didn't want his son to go in vain. He started the "Save Our Kings" campaign to protest gun violence. 

"I can't question God's will," the father said

The viewing was at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, where a woman collapsed in grief. King's aunt Tawana Akins talked to the crowd of hundreds, who were trying to make sense of his death.

"You want to hold, learn to hold your children a little tighter, kiss them a little longer," Akins said. "I find myself holding my granddaughter now more than ever."

The first-grade student at Van. E. Blanton Elementary School died during a drive-by shooting, as he walked across a parking lot on his way to buy candy in Northwest Miami-Dade. 

Miami-Dade police worked quickly to make arrests in the case. Three teenagers -- Tamar Teems, 16, Irwin Pressley, 17, and Leonard Adams, 18 -- were behind bars.  

Police said the three teens fired weapons, but have not reported who shot King. Tamar and Leonard drove to Jackson North Medical Center after the shooting. Leonard was injured. 

Pressley was on probation for an armed robbery and was wearing a GPS ankle bracelet. Detectives were still looking for a black, 1999 Lexus GS300 with tinted windows. 

Police accused the teens of going to the Blue Lake Village apartment complex on Saturday afternoon, to confront a teen known as "Ju Ju,"  whom they were fighting with on Facebook.

"Ju Ju" fired his weapon. And little King was caught in the cross fire, police said.

 Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez and Miami-Dade Superintendent Alberto Carvalho were also at the service. 

Local 10 News reporter Liane Morejon contributed to this report. 


About the Authors:

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.