MIAMI GARDENS. Fla. – In light of the tenth anniversary of the murder of 16-year-old Zamari Ricardo Pierre-Louis, the Miami Gardens Police Department, along with the boy’s family, held a “Plea to the Public” press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
A Local 10 News crew was in Miami Gardens Tuesday as Pierre-Louis’ family members formed a circle outside the public safety building, grabbed each other’s hands and prayed for justice just before they walked into the conference.
On January 15, 2014, at approximately 7:55 p.m., authorities said Pierre-Louis was walking home when he was shot and killed by an unknown individual or individuals in front of a home near the 15000 block of Northwest 18th Avenue in Miami Gardens.
Sherita Small, Pierre-Louis’ mother, told Local 10 News that her grief remains just as heavy 10 years after her son was gunned down.
My son was very loved, and for him to be taken away from us like that, it was just so senseless,” she said.
Over the years, detectives confirmed they have exhausted all viable leads and the culprit or culprits involved have not been identified.
“The last conversation I had with him we were sitting in the living room, and he said ‘Mom, I’m going up the street to the Frozen Cup House’ and then somebody come knocked on my door and said he’d been shot.”'
Pierre-Louis’ mother said that he attended Mt. Calvary Baptist Church and sang in their choir and aspired to be a preacher. He was the youngest of three boys and loved by many.
Miami Gardens Police Capt. Jeremy McIntyre believes that Pierre-Louis was likely “targeted.”
She also had a message for the person or people responsible for her son’s killing.
“I really wish they would come forward and have a heart because to me they are nothing cowards,” she said. “They’re killing our kids but running away from it.”
After Local 10 News reporter Layron Livingston asked Miami Gardens Police Chief Delma K. Noell-Pratt if her city was safe, she replied, “Yes, you are safe.”
“Each one (case) is different,” said Noell-Pratt. “Each one has its own particular nuances to it, and we’re doing what we always do, and that’s investigate each case to the fullest extent.”
Anyone with information on the case is urged to call the MGPD at 305-474-6473 or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-7477.
Watch the full press conference here:
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