Police arrest a North Miami Beach man in connection to fatal triple shooting at Taste of Miami Karnival in Little Haiti
A North Miami Beach man was arrested and charged in connection with the fatal shooting of one man and the wounding of two others at the Taste of Miami Festival last Sunday night.
Miami Police say 22-year-old Jamesly Mezime has been charged with second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder in the death of 23-year-old Kitchner Cyrille.
Mezime appeared before a judge in Bond court Friday afternoon, where he was held without bond and ordered to stay away from the surviving victims if he is released from jail.
Police spokesman Mike Vega spoke with CBS News Miami about the arrest, noting that detectives worked tirelessly to scour surveillance video and identify Mezime.
The shooting occurred just before 11:30 p.m. Sunday at Northeast Second Avenue and 62nd Street during the festival, which was celebrating Caribbean culture.
Vega said the shooting followed a fight between Mezime and Cyrille near the main stage.
"There was some sort of fight between the victim and the offender," Vega said. "We saw it on video. There was a scuffle between two males, and then we saw the person we just arrested produce a firearm and shoot at the victim".
Vega added that the victim, Cyrille, was also robbed. "They went into his pockets, the victim's pockets, and took something and fled the scene," Vega said.
The investigation led detectives to perform surveillance at Mezime's home. Undercover units followed him after he left and arrested him at Biscayne Boulevard and 38th Street. Vega stated that Mezime did not resist and cooperated, giving a confession at the station.
Cyrille's cousin and an unidentified woman were also shot in the Little Haiti festival
In addition to Cyrille, his cousin was shot multiple times, and an unidentified woman was shot in the leg. Vega indicated that the two wounded people were "in the wrong place at the wrong time when he shot the victim".
Cyrille's aunt, Chrislyne Brumaire-Florence, told CBS News Miami that both men who were shot were her nephews, and she is grateful an arrest has been made. She said Cyrille was a graduate of Miami Edison Senior High School, had been in junior college, and loved track. They had attended the festival as a family event, as they are a "Little Haiti family".
"This can not be happening. There is no reason for this. This left a gaping hole in our hearts for something that was supposed to be fun," Brumaire-Florence said. She added, "This is inhumane. This is not what you expect when you go to a festival. This is not what you expect when you go out with your family".