Police: Mom of 6 shot dead in front of children near NE Miami-Dade park
MIAMI - Miami-Dade police said a mother of 6 children was shot and killed in her vehicle, in front of her children following an argument with someone outside her vehicle.
The two had a disagreement. It's unclear at this time what they were arguing about but when Jeretha Lawson, 33, was confronted with a gun she was shot. As she tried to escape, she crashed into two unoccupied vehicles.
Lawson died. Police say her children are between 7 and 17 years old.
It happened Tuesday afternoon at around 3 p.m. in the area of Northeast 159th Street and 7th Avenue, near Oak Grove Park.
Longtime neighbor Colleen McCarthy told CBS News Miami's Peter D'Oench she may never forget what she heard after the shooting.
"Well I was in back and I heard a crash," she said. "I heard a bunch of screaming and it sounded like the kids got hit by a car. It was very intense. I kept hearing the kids saying 'that's my mom. That's my mom.' I didn't know what was going on but I just knew that something bad happened. I ran inside my house because I had to help mom."
She said. "I just think was terrible. Not too long ago there was shooting down the street. This was just terrible. It was very devastating. I also relate to this because we are a family of 6 people too. For that to happen, I just can't imagine why this would happen to somebody."
Her kids are unharmed but again police are trying to pick up the pieces as to what happened. Here's what they had to say about this incident:
"I can't even begin to imagine what those children felt as they watched their mom get shot. I cannot even imagine what they're feeling right now. What they're going through right now. We do have victim advocates that are here on the scene . We are trying to and we will provide any and every assistance possible to this family," said police spokesman Angel Rodriguez.
It's unclear what led to this shooting. Police do not have a description to release of the shooter. They say it is not clear if the suspect fled on foot or was in a car.
McCarrthy said, "I hope and pray to God that they find whoever did this. I can't imagine what the children must have been going through. I just can't imagine that. And I just can't imagine why anyone would do this.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-8477.
There is a reward in this case of up to $5,000.
