Two teens made their first court appearance Thursday after being arrested in the killing of a 17-year-old who was shot and killed in a park in Homestead Sunday, police said.
The teens, aged 16 and 17, are facing charges of second-degree murder with a deadly weapon in the killing of Jatavious Williams, Miami-Dade Police said Wednesday. NBC is not releasing the names of the suspects due to their ages.
Both teens are due back in court January 30th, at which time prosecutors in the case will announce whether a grand jury determined if there is enough evidence to charge them as adults.
Police say Williams was at Blakey Park on Southwest 14th Avenue Sunday night when he was shot and killed. Police said the suspects exchanged words with Williams and when Williams stood up, the suspects shot him.
An arrest report said the teen suspects admitted to the shooting and said they went to the park to shoot rival gang members.
The shooting was one of several recent teen shootings in South Florida that has left the community outraged. A vigil was held for Williams Tuesday night at the park.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez made an appearance at a vigil Wednesday night – another held to condemn the ongoing gun violence claiming young lives.
"We believe that we should be living in peace and in harmony and that there is no room in this city for the kind of violence," Suarez said.
