Carvalho: "Seems As Though It's A Crime To Be A Child In Miami"
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MIAMI GARDENS (CBSMiami) -- With a heavy heart, Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho took a moment to pay his respects at the spot where a 6-year old student was shot and killed.
Carvalho also stopped by the child's school to console classmates and teachers.
"It seems as though it's a crime to be a child in Miami because far too many are paying the ultimate price," said Carvalho.
Carter's mother, Monica Smith, told CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "Even though he was only six, he had a big personality. Everywhere he went everyone loved him. They took my baby from me. My baby deserved better. He was going to go to high school and on to college. We had big plans for my baby."
"Please come forward, whoever did this," she said. "This has got to stop because after this it could be someone else's child."
Pastor Eric Readon of the New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church said he is adding $1,000 to the current reward of up to $25,000 in this case.
"Enough is enough on this violence," Readon said at a news conference in Doral with local pastors. "We need to put up or shut up to stop this senseless killing."
He went on,"Somebody needs to be brought to justice. It saddens me and it sickens me that a 6-year old can not even go out and play without being a victim of gun violence."
Students at Van E. Blanton Elementary are still coming to grips with the loss of first grader King Carter who was gunned down just blocks away from the school.
"We used to play hide and go seek," said student Kayia Pelch.
"King Carter was bigger than life and we will remember him forever," said the principal of the school.
Police said King was on his way to buy candy in the middle of the day Saturday when he got caught in the crossfire during a drive-by shooting in front of his apartment complex on NW 103rd Street and 12th Avenue.
A source close to the investigation told CBS4 News the gunfire was the result of a drug feud between dealers in the neighborhood.
"I'm scared for my kids to even be outside…A stray bullet can come from everywhere," said parent Hatti Fletcher.
"My 8-year old heard what happened and he's like I don't want to play outside. Why should a child have to think that way," said parent Zoraida Acevedo.
The community came together over the weekend -- fed up with the violence. King's parents were barley able to hold it together.
"On school days, I'd make him French toast, eggs, bacon," said King's father Santonio Carter.
Police said they are looking for at least three men who were in a black 4-door car. Two of them got out and shot up the complex then sped away.
"Enough is enough," said parent Beverly Farmer.
On Monday morning, community leaders walked through Miami Gardens hoping for change after a 14-year old student was shot outside of his home just hours after King was killed. His grandmother says the 8th grader was hit in the arm and is expected to recover.
"This is solvable but it will not be solved if we don't have the courage to admit and recognize the crisis and do all that we can do address it," said Carvalho.
The superintendent said the community needs to wake up and act -- calling for increased multi-agency community policing, extended after-school programs, and legislature to better protect witnesses who come forward with information.
"There is a code of silence that is killing children in Miami and there's a reason for that - they are afraid," said Carvalho.
"There will be protection for you. Come forth please. Put this coward away before it happens to your family," said Tangle Sears with Mothers Of Murdered Kids.
Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said if someone with information is afraid to come forward, they can go to him directly.
"Send me the information. Call me. I will speak with you anonymously," said Carvalho. "Don't give me your name. Just give someone's name. We'll take care of the rest."
The superintendents can be contacted at 305-995-2940 or emailed at:acarvalho@dadeschools.net
Family members said there will be a viewing for King Carter this Friday starting at 4 p.m. at the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church at 740 N.W. 58th Street in Northwest Miami-Dade. There will be a funeral service for him at the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church at 2300 N.W. 135th Street at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
