Gunfire Erupts At Golden Glades House Party, Killing One Person & Injuring Three Others
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Gunfire erupted at a house party on Easter Sunday in northwest Miami-Dade, killing one person and injuring three others.
Police were sent to the area of NW 150 Street and South River Drive, shortly before 10 p.m.
Maurice Symonette owns the home where the shooting took place. He said it wasn't his party, however.
"I'm very sad about that but it wasn't because I threw a party, because I didn't throw a party," he said.
Someone who attended the party said there were at least 60-80 people at the home. At one point an argument broke out.
"Two kids come by, they have an argument according to what people say, it was over a phone," said Symonette.
Police said it was that argument over the phone which led to the shooting. A 22-year-old man who was hit was rushed to the Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition. He later died.
A 24-year-old man, who was also injured, was taken there too, and listed as stable.
A 14-year-old was hit by shrapnel and his mother, who was there to pick him up, was grazed by a bullet on her foot.
Symonette wouldn't say how a mass gathering that large gained access to his home.
"If I was throwing a party, I would have security first of all. We wasn't throwing anything, people just came to the house. It was easter," he said.
He thinks he was targeted by neighbors because he's a supporter of former President Donald Trump. Symonette said he is a founder of Blacks for Trump.
"I can at least talk to the media because I'm 'Blacks for Trump.' They're mad because I'm that and they're mad because I'm bringing Latin, Black, and white (people) together to stop the war," said Symonette.
Symonette added that he thinks his neighbors are racists and said as much when one confronted him.
Another neighbor, who's African American, said race has nothing to do with it. Elizabeth Judd said she had to put up "no parking" signs because of all the traffic Symonette's parties attract.
"It would be different if my neighbor across the street or next door has an occasional party, park on my grass, I don't care. But if you do it every weekend, no my grass can't take that," she said.
Judd said she has called the police and code compliance numerous times.
A code enforcement officer was out again Monday, but Judd said it didn't mean much.
"Hell no. They've been out here. In fact, I know the code supervisor so well I've got her personal telephone number," she said.
CBS4 has also learned from Miami-Dade police that the county's department of regulatory and economic resources is now taking a close look at the home where the house party was held. The department enforces codes and regulations tied to buildings and structures and zoning.
Another neighbor told CBS4's Peter D'Oench that he too has complained about the parties at the home.
While he did not want to provide his name or show his face on TV, he said, "This has been going on for 5 years. I have been complaining to police and to code enforcement. The county does not do anything. Code Enforcement tells us it is a police issue. We file complaints and nothing happens. At 2 a.m., my house is vibrating because of the level of the music."
Symonette said he's spoken with the police about the shooting and will cooperate in their investigation.
Investigators were still at Symonette's home on midday Monday. CBS4 News was told they were waiting on a warrant to search the property.
Symonette mentioned he was a follower of the teachings of the Nation of Yahweh. Several members of the group and its leader, Yahweh ben Yahweh, were convicted of more than a dozen murders in the 1990s.
Miami-Dade police spokesman Det. Luis Sierra said they do not have a description of the shooter and it's not known if more than one gunman was involved.
"We do need help from the public. We have four people who were shot or hit by shrapnel. One of them has died. We need to find whoever did this," Sierra said.
Anyone who can help should call Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477). There is a reward of up to $5,000.
