FLORIDA CITY, Fla. – A massive police scene was spotted in Florida City Saturday night following a fatal shooting.
The victim, according to officials, was just 13 years old.
It all happened around 8 p.m. near the corner of Northwest 13th Street and Sixth Avenue.
That’s where investigators said 13-year-old Johvan Taylor was found with critical injuries.
Paramedics airlifted the teen to Jackson South Medical Center where he later died from his injuries.
Police said a second juvenile was also shot, and they are in stable condition after being brought to the hospital.
Neighbors told Local 10 News’ Trent Kelly that Taylor was standing outside a home with a group of friends when the shooting took place.
Local 10 cameras captured at least three bullet holes in the home’s front windows.
The motive for the shooting remains unclear.
Anyone with information is urged to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. A $5,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest.
A vigil was held for Taylor near the scene of the shooting on Sunday night.
“Just his personality, that smile, who he was as a person -- very bold, outspoken, good child, good grades,” family friend Cheryl Walker said. “He was over at my house everyday. I just wish he came last night, you know. It would’ve been a different situation.”
Surveillance cameras from a neighboring home captured nearly two dozen gunshots being fired.
“I’m just confused, I’m in shock, I don’t believe it,” Taylor’s aunt, Jakilah Brady, said. “I feel like it’s all a dream. I just want him to wake up.”
Taylor’s aunt said she’s still in shock. She’s now urging the public to help find the shooter and is hoping mobile billboards asking for anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers will help bring the family closure.
“He was so happy, he lived a good life,” she said. “He did not deserve nothing that happened to him, so if you know anything, please speak up.”
Loved ones say Taylor loved football and was a member of the Florida City Razorbacks Little League team.
Following a string of other shootings involving young adults, city leaders are now working to keep a tragedy like this from happening again.
“Well in the past few weeks, we’ve hired more police officers,” Florida City Mayor Otis Wallace said. “We have a quarter of a million dollars of surveillance cameras in high crime areas. We’ve just funded 250 grand for a mobile suppression unit.”