Miami-Dade County

Mother Shot, Killed While Driving With Her 6 Kids During Dispute Outside Miami-Dade Park

The incident was reported on Northeast 159th Street outside Oak Grove Park

NBC Universal, Inc.

A mother who was driving with six children inside her SUV was shot and killed during a dispute outside a Miami-Dade park Tuesday afternoon, officials said.

The incident happened shortly before 3 p.m. in the 600 block of Northeast 159th Street, outside Oak Grove Park.

Miami-Dade Police spokesperson Angel Rodriguez said the mother, later identified as 33-year-old Jeretha Lawson, got into an argument with another group inside a car.

Someone inside the other car pulled out a gun and shot at Lawson, who ended up crashing into two other cars, Rodriguez said.

NBC6's Xochitl Hernandez has more on the scene Tuesday that claimed the life of one woman.

Witness Eustace Norris said she heard the noise of the crash.

"I heard a big noise, it was her car crashing right there because someone shot the lady in her head and the lady lost control and crashed into two other cars," Norris said in Spanish. "And the kid's screaming on her mother, saying 'oh no mom, oh no!"

Lawson died at the scene. Her children, aged between 7-17, weren't hurt by the gunfire or the crash.

"I cannot even begin to imagine what those children felt having watched their mom get shot," Miami-Dade Police spokesman Angel Rodriguez said. "I cannot even imagine what they're feeling right now or what they’re going through right now."

Footage showed the three vehicles that were involved in the crash, which included a white sedan, a silver sedan and a black SUV.

Multiple officers from Miami-Dade Police and Miami-Dade County Public Schools Police responded to the scene, along with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.

Miami-Dade Schools Police said nearby Oak Grove Elementary School had been temporarily placed on lockdown following the incident.

The shooter or shooters fled the scene. Police haven't made any arrests but said they're trying to find whoever shot Lawson.

"We don’t know how many subjects were involved. We don’t know if they fled on foot or if they fled in a vehicle," Rodriguez said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477).

Check back with NBC6 for updates.

Contact Us