Teen killed in Miami Gardens had 20 gunshot wounds

Court documents reveal that Roderick Sweeting's spinal cord severed by bullets

Roderick Sweeting, 17, was fatally shot in Miami Gardens.

MIAMI – A 17-year-old boy who was fatally shot outside his Miami Gardens apartment complex April 5 had 20 gunshot wounds to his body, according to court documents obtained Wednesday by Local 10 News.

Three teenagers -- Rachid Jacques, 16, Quamaine McMillian and Devon Vickers, both 15 -- have been arrested in connection with the shooting death of Roderick Sweeting.

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According to court documents related to the arrests of the three suspects, an autopsy performed April 7 revealed that Sweeting "was shot even when he was defenseless, lying on the ground with his spinal cord severed by the bullets."

The documents also revealed that the suspects are members of a criminal street gang known as the "Cloverleaf Boyz."

During a court hearing Wednesday morning, the state announced that it intends to present the case to a grand jury to try the teens as adults and indict them on first-degree murder charges. The defendants were not present for the hearing.

Miami Gardens police believe all four teens may have been involved in an ongoing dispute that led to the shooting.

Sweeting's mother told Local 10 that she wants an opportunity to speak to the suspects.

"I want to see them and I want to ask them why," Tammy Sweeting said. "I want to see their faces and ask them why."

The teens remain in jail without bond. Their next court date is set for April 29.


About the Author:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.