Northwest Miami-Dade street renamed in honor of King Carter

King would have turned 8 Thursday

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. ā€“ A Miami-Dade County street has been renamed after King Carter, 6, who was fatally shot last year after police said he got caught in the crossfire during a shootout between three teenagers.

From this day forward, Northwest 104th Street, between 11th and 12th avenues will be known as King Carter Street.

The street is one King would walk every day from home to his elementary school.

An emotional march was held Thursday from King's apartment complex, where he was killed, to the school he used to attend.

Thursday would have been King's eighth birthday.

"It's a street and also a memory lane, so everybody would come down this street (and) just think about the memory of King Carter, the legacy of King Carter," the boy's father, Santonio Carter, said.Ā 

"Children that walk that street understand that you can live a short life but still make a positive impact in your community," Commissioner Jean Monestime said.

Police said King was killed on Feb. 20, 2016, when an online feud between several teens turned into a shooting.

Tamar Teems, Irwen Pressley and Leonard Adams were arrested and charged in the shooting.

Since then, King's father has been making it his mission to put an end to senseless gun violence in Miami-Dade County.

"I'm here for the kids who get ignored, get stepped on, get punished for the demographics of where they're from," Carter said.

As for having the street named after his son, Carter said the visual is bittersweet.

He said he wishes he were able to celebrate King's eighth birthday with him instead of just seeing his name on a sign.

"It's not what it's supposed to have been, but I'm happy that the city and the government officials and the community (are) honoring King Carter with a street, so his name can live forever," Carter said.

King's loved ones also plan to celebrate his birthday Thursday with cake, ice cream and a balloon release.

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