MIAMI – Miami police are stepping up efforts to combat the opioid crisis.
The police department held a news conference Thursday about the issue, nearly a month after a 10-year-old boy from Overtown was the latest victim to die after coming into contact with fentanyl.
"When you lose a child of this age, it really shocks all of our consciences," Miami Police Chief Rodolfo Llanes said.
The city of Miami’s top cop begged for the public's help in figuring out how Alton Banks died with fentanyl in his system.
"We don't have any working theories right now as to how he did that, and that's why we need the public's help," Llanes said.
Investigators are still unable to figure out how the young boy came into contact with the deadly drug.
They said he came home from swimming at Gibson Park in the Overtown area, less than three blocks from his home, and collapsed.
"So if someone was in the area on June 23 between 5 and 6 p.m. and saw Alton Banks and who he came into contact with, we need that information," Llanes said.
Meanwhile, the little boy's death has sent shock waves through the city and the nation.
"We're exploring options on holding some of the manufacturers of these drugs responsible for what they're doing," Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez said.
City officials said they're now looking at additional ways to combat the opioid epidemic, including education for those as young as elementary age.
"We are now expanding our demographics of information to our youngest citizens," Llanes said.