FLORIDA CITY, Fla. – An 18-year-old man appeared in bond court Monday morning, two days after he was arrested in connection with a fatal shooting in Florida City.
“You all hurt a mother, a grandma, a sister, a brother,” the victim’s aunt said over the weekend.
The woman and her family are remembering 15-year-old Damarion Bailey, who was fatally shot on Saturday.
“The only thing we have of Damarion is memories,” the victim’s aunt said.
On Sunday, those who knew Damarion returned to the street where he was shot and killed on Saturday morning.
“He didn’t only have one or two people who loved him -- he had a whole community who loved him,” the victim’s aunt said.
The fatal shooting happened in the area of Northwest 13th Street and Fifth Avenue in Florida City as Damarion was sitting outside of a friend’s apartment.
At some point, detectives say two boys rode by on bikes, catching the attention of Damarion’s friend -- 18-year-old Jeron Smith.
According to his arrest report, “Smith produced a handgun and began to fire towards the unidentified males unprovoked. Those individuals dropped their bicycles and fled on foot. During the course of the shooting, the victim was fatally struck in the head as Smith was shooting and retreating toward his residence.”
Smith was later arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
He appeared in court Monday, where a judge ruled that he continue to be held without bond.
“I’m just glad he got justice,” the victim’s mother, Latasha Bailey, said.
Damarion’s mother led a candlelight vigil on Sunday, hoping to send a message and honor the life of the slain Homestead Middle School student.
“To let him know we ain’t forgot about him,” she said.
Smith is being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center as he awaits trial.