MIAMI.- An act considered to be fatherly bravery ended in tragedy on Tuesday in Florida City, south of Miami-Dade, when a father of 14 children was fatally shot while trying to stop a fight between teenagers.
Kentarian Lamont Cross, 22, surrendered to authorities and faces second-degree murder charges for allegedly shooting Johnny Lewis Stevenson Jr., 47, as he was apparently trying to protect his daughter and end the altercation.
According to authorities, the incident began as a dispute on a Homestead High School bus and escalated to deadly violence on the streets around 7:19 p.m.
The events occurred near the intersection of 14th Street and Northwest 1st Court, where Stevenson, affectionately known as “Bobo,” went when he heard that his daughter was involved, according to investigations.
A video in the possession of the authorities, captured by a cell phone, would show the moment in which Stevenson tries to separate the young people.
Stevenson was shot in the abdomen and was initially taken to Baptist Homestead Hospital. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was airlifted to Jackson South Medical Center, where he died during emergency surgery.
Cross, the alleged shooter, surrendered to authorities Wednesday night. At his appearance before Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy S. Glazer, he was denied bail. He currently faces charges of second-degree murder with a firearm.
Pronouncement
Miami-Dade Public Schools issued a statement expressing concern about the incident: “We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss of life.”
They add that “our priority is the safety of our students and staff. “We are cooperating fully with authorities in their investigation and the students involved will be disciplined in accordance with our Student Code of Conduct.”
voices of pain
The Florida City community is mourning the loss of Stevenson, remembered by some residents as a loving and devoted father to his 14 children.
Neighbors and friends have organized a vigil at the scene of the incident, leaving candles, flowers and messages of condolence for the family.
Authorities continue to investigate the details of the incident, including how Cross, who is not a student, became involved in the fight between students at the Homestead school.
More details are expected to be revealed in the coming days about this event that has shaken the Florida City community and leaves 14 children without a father.
