FLORIDA CITY, Fla. – A 15-year-old boy is facing adult charges in connection with a deadly shooting in Florida City that left one teenager dead and another critically wounded, Local 10 News learned Thursday.
According to an arrest report from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, the shooting unfolded around 6:10 p.m. on April 18, near Southwest Sixth Avenue and Seventh Terrace, just north of the Pineland Preserve.
Florida City police officers arrived to find two teens inside a 2009 Buick Enclave.
They said one of the victims — seated in the front passenger seat — had been shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel. He or she was not identified in the report.
Authorities said the driver of that SUV had a gunshot wound to the back and was airlifted to Jackson South Medical Center in critical condition.
Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators showed multiple shooters opening fire on the SUV before fleeing southbound on foot.
According to the report, the surviving victim later identified Tobias Childress as one of the shooters.
Investigators said the shooting may have stemmed from a marijuana exchange planned just ahead of April 20.
The victim told detectives that someone he knew, who was among the shooters, had invited him to the location by text, the report stated.
With assistance from MDPD’s Special Response Team, detectives said they arrested Childress on April 23 at his residence.
He was taken to MDSO’s headquarters, where he was questioned, however, the contents of his statement were redacted in the publicly released report.
Jail records show Childress was being held without bond at the Metrowest Detention Center as of Thursday morning.
The Florida City neighborhood has seen a spike in gun violence this year.
Authorities said 13-year-old Johvan Taylor was killed in a nearby shooting in January and a 90-year-old man was shot in the same area while doing a crossword puzzle in bed back in March.
Detectives are asking anyone with information on any of the cases to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477. Callers can remain anonymous.
