'We Must Get These Killers Off The Streets': Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Police Want Justice In Weekend Mass Shootings
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - After a bloody weekend in Miami-Dade in which three people were killed and more than 30 others were injured, county leaders are taking action and asking for help in finding those responsible.
Friday night's shooting in Wynwood, in the area of NW 20 Street and NW 1 Court, left one person dead and six others injured.
Early Sunday morning, a mass shooting outside the outside El Mula Banquet Hall in northwest Miami-Dade banquet hall left two dead and over 20 injured. Three of the injured in critical condition.
"We must get these killers off the streets, we can only do it with your help," said Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava on Monday. "We must break this cycle of violence. There is a cycle, gun violence is an epidemic and the pandemic has intensified it. We must invest in public safety and we must invest in our communities."
Speaking in front of Miami-Dade police headquarters, Cava said her administration is focused on getting to the root cause of crime and match residents with the services that they need. The mayor said they must do both - prevent and seek justice.
WATCH: Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, MDPD News Conference On Mass Shootings
Cava also spoke to CNN on Monday regarding the county's Peace and Prosperity Plan and how it will work to solve and prevent tragedies.
"It will help us get to the root causes of violence because we know certain neighborhoods are more effected than others, and we need to make sure we have prevention and intervention strategies in place," she said.
Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III said the shootings do not represent the county.
"We're a community built on trust, we care about our children, we care about our families, no matter what part of the community where you are from, we're all one," said Ramirez. "I'm very thankful for this community who has been providing information to bring justice to these murderers. These gun violence-driven murderers who are targeting individuals and at the same time hitting innocent people that have nothing to do with their beef, ruining families, harming mothers, that is the pain that affects our community."
Ramirez said together we must work harder to bring justice to the families.
"The Miami-Dade police department will not stop. We will bring justice, our community is united," he said.
WATCH: CBS4's Jim DeFede Shares Insight Into Mass Shooting Investigation
Miami-Dade police Major Jorge Aguiar, with the homicide unit, said the violence was senseless and despicable. He said their investigators believe the mass shooting at the El Mula Banquet Hall was likely "gang" related. It happened at an album release party of rapper Spitta — also performing was Foetpack.
"There was a crowd starting to gather in front of the establishment while they were waiting to enter the location. We have investigative information that a white Nissan Pathfinder approached the side of the entrance, three individuals exited the Pathfinder armed, and open fire on the crowd. As a result of that initial shooting, several groups that were in the parking lot also armed themselves and open fire towards the initial shooters. That resulted in multiple people being transported to hospitals in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. A total of 23 people were shot, two were deceased on the scene, and three are critically injured in the hospital. So far, three people have been released, the remainder are hospitalized. We have intelligence information that this resulted from an ongoing rivalry between two different groups, we know that the intended target was most likely in front of the establishment when the shooting took place," said Aguiar.
He did not say who they believe the intended target was but did say they were continuing to go over the extensive forensic evidence.
"This is a community problem. We have to solve this together. We have to find a way to stop this senseless violence before this gets out of control," said Aguiar.
On Monday, Miami-Dade police found the SUV used in the shooting. It was dumped in the Biscayne Canal just off NW 154th Street and NW 2nd Avenue, approximately nine miles from where the shooting took place. A senior law enforcement source told CBS4 the vehicle was stolen before the shooting. Police are working to identify the armed suspects who were caught on camera getting out of the vehicle.
WATCH: Surveillance Video Of El Mula Banquet Hall Shooting Suspects
Miami-Dade Commissioner Keon Hardemon called the recent shootings acts of domestic terrorism.
"Anytime a shooter strikes 20 people, most of whom have nothing to do with whatever their issue is, anytime they strike them down and they die in our community, it is meant to keep us from having a regular life in Miami-Dade County. It is to keep us from going out and enjoying ourselves, it is to keep us from being part of the economic system that is, it puts a chill on our communities," he said.
"If you look at the recent shootings, they happened in areas where people were out to have a good time, it routinely happens in neighborhoods where people are accustomed to gun violence."
Ramirez said in the banquet hall shooting, they've received some tips but need more.
"I'm very thankful for this community providing information to bring justice to those murdered, those gun violence driven murders," he said.
The reward for information that leads to an arrest was increased by $100,000 when Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis pledged to help his hometown.
The ATF said it would add $25,000 to the reward money, for a grand total of $130,000. The total includes $5,000 offered by Crime Stoppers.
