Teen Dies After Being Shot In The Head At A NW Dade Apartment Complex
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - A northwest Miami-Dade teen has died at Jackson Memorial Hospital days after he was shot in the head.
Miami-Dade Police told CBS4 that he was pronounced dead just after 8 a.m. Monday.
Sixteen-year-old Master Johnson Jr., who many know as Nalton, was shot Friday at an apartment complex at NW 64th Street and 20th Avenue. Miami-Dade Police say it happened at around 10:25 p.m. in the area of Lincoln Fields Apartments.
Martha Spikes, who knew Johnson and his family, tells CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "I knew him. He was a good kid. He loved basketball and football. He was a good kid and every parent's dream. He is going to be missed. He was well-loved and respected."
Spikes said, "Nobody knows why this happened," she said. "They don't know how it happened and why it happened. Too many kids are doing today, It doesn't make sense."
Spikes lives in an apartment right next to where the shooting happened. Johnson lost his life just a few blocks away from the apartment where he lives.
Family members in that apartment did not want to say anything.
Spikes said, "Somebody needs to come forward and speak up. The parents need to know who did it and the parents need to have peace of mind. There is not much else I can say but he is going to be missed."
Miami-Dade Schools Supt. Alberto Carvalho tweeted, "Overnight, cowardly gun violence claims another victim in the streets of Miami. Inexplicably, a 16-year-old big sustained a gunshot wound to the head and is currently in critical condition at Ryder Trauma Center. Prayers and thoughts alone won't help. #Silencekills#enough.
On Sunday, several children and community activists gathered to bring awareness to gun violence in their community.
"You guys are not supposed to die by bullets," Susan Kennedy told a group of children.
Kennedy is the founder of the group "Bullets 4 Life."
"Their friends are dying out here. Our kids are dying out here. I don't think we are doing enough," said Kennedy.
She spent Sunday working to inspire kids to help end gun violence. They gathered in the same spot where Johnson was shot.
"I cried when I heard this because I have a 15-year-old son. That boy could've been any one of us. It's happening every day. It's the same story, different faces," Kennedy said.
Police don't know who's responsible or why it happened.
Investigators returned to the apartment complex on Monday to ask for tips.
This wasn't the only shooting over the weekend involving a teen.
Another teen was shot and robbed while riding his dirt bike near NW 193rd Street and 37th Avenue in Miami Gardens.
He was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where police say he is in serious condition.
Anyone with information on either of these shootings is urged to call Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).
There is a reward in Johnson's case of up to $3,000.
