17-year-old found shot in stomach near El Portal

Mother says shooter targeted teen

MIAMI – A 17-year-old boy was found shot in the stomach Thursday afternoon near El Portal.

The teenager was shot about 5 p.m. near Northwest 84th Street and Northwest Second Avenue.

His mother identified him as Joma Zephyr. She said her son was dropped off by a school bus in the neighborhood before he was shot at a nearby park. She said a friend drove him to the home where he used to live, where he was found by police.

El Portal and Miami-Dade police set up a perimeter to search for the shooter, who Zephyr's mother said targeted the teen.

A view from Sky 10 showed police surrounding a gray Infinity G35 sedan. 

Zephyr underwent surgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center. His mother said doctors told her they had to leave the bullet in her son's stomach because it was too risky to remove.  

Detectives are asking anyone with information about the shooting to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.


About the Authors

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.

Roy Ramos joined the Local 10 News team in 2018. Roy is a South Florida native who grew up in Florida City. He attended Christopher Columbus High School, Homestead Senior High School and graduated from St. Thomas University.

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