Police Search For Gunmen In NW Dade Park Drive-By Shooting

MIAMI (CBS4) – Young victims of a gang-related, drive-by shooting at a Miami-Dade park are speaking out, urging the public to come forward with tips after an incident that left the four children with bullet wounds.

"My name is Jabhari," said the youngest victim, three-year-old Jabhari Payne. He showed CBS4's Peter D'Oench where he was shot and how a bullet grazed his stomach.

"It hurts," said Payne. "And I was shot over there," pointing to West Little River Park, where Miami-Dade Police say two gunmen with an AK-47 assault rifle and a high-caliber handgun opened fire around 6 p.m. on Tuesday evening at West Little River Park at 2326 N.W. 84th Ave.

Police believe Jabhari Payne and the children were innocent victims and say they believe the gunmen were targeting gang members who were in the park at the time. Detectives have questioned gang members who were at the park but police say they have not cooperated.

"I think it hurts," said Payne, pointing to his wound.

"Do you hope they get the bad guys?" D'Oench asked him.

"Yeah," Payne replied.

"Do you want to see them caught?" D'Oench asked him.

"Yeah," Payne replied. "I want them caught right now."

Witnesses say the park was filled with children playing basketball and youth football players and cheerleaders who were about to have a practice session.

Payne was shot while in the arms of his aunt, 16-year-old Zamara Barnes, who was shot in the back and said, "The bullet went in and out."

Fourteen-year-old Debonair Blake was also grazed by a bullet that left some shrapnel in his left side. As he showed D'Oench his wound, he said, "I heard the shots and I ran. When the bullet hit me, it stung a little bit. I didn't see it coming."

When he was told that gang members were suspected in this case, Blake told D'Oench, "They are ignorant people. They got no life. They hurt innocent people. It would mean a lot to me if they would get caught. They would be locked up so they couldn't do it again."

A fourth victim, 11-year-old Tyrie Collins, was shot in the leg and may have to spend a few more days at Jackson Memorial Hospital, according to family members. One of them told D'Oench that he is "going to be ok. "

One good Samaritan, 12-year-old Cirde Perkins, was walking to cheerleading practice when the bullets started to fly. She told CBS4's Natalia Zea that she rushed to help Collins.

"I got on the ground and I crawled out of the gate to see if he was okay. He kept on saying that he didn't want to die."

Zamara Barnes' mother Sonya broke into tears when thinking about the gunmen who shot up the park.

"It's crazy. They have no regard for life. You hear it on the news but you never think your child would get shot. It's crazy. They have no regard for life."

Eduardo Barnes, a football coach in the park and the grandfather of Jabhari Payne, said, "It's ridiculous that kids can't go out there and learn a sport."

Pastor Carl Johnson does youth ministry outreach in the neighborhood. He told CBS4's Natalia Zea that he's seen first-hand how children often turn to lives of crime when surrounded by violence so early in life.

"It's damaging to the first magnitude...I have about 20-percent gang members, young and old in my church and if I would have to say how many percentage of all...20 percent have grown up with that gang mindset," says Pastor Johnson.

He also says children quickly become desensitized to violence.

"It can become a habit as if they can brag about, I was around the bullet shooting. That mindset much change."

When reporters asked 16-year-old Zamara Payne about being shot in the back. She appeared pretty numb..almost nonchalant.

"I wasn't in pain, I didn't even know I got shot," said Payne.

When her grandmother told her the shooters need to come forward Payne simply responded, "They don't need to say nothing."

George Johnson says he dropped to the ground during a similar drive by shooting when he played pee wee football in that park.  He saw a lot of violence growing up here.

"So after awhile you just get conditioned to it and you just live with it," said Johnson.

But Johnson points out that despite those violent encounters he is now a devoted father and successful restaurant manager.  He says this latest shooting will also be resolved.

"Out of every negative something positive always comes out of it.  And what they'll probably learn is how tight-knit this community is."

Pastor Johnson says the key to helping kids overcome their violent surroundings is mentorship and good parenting.

Miami-Dade Police are looking for a black Ford Fusion with very dark tints that the suspects may have fled in.

Anyone with information on the shooting is urged to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS.