Miami-Dade police

8 Years Later, Police Search for Answers After Teen Killed Outside Going Away Party in Homestead

On March 20, 2009 Corey McKechnie hosted a party to celebrate his enlistment in the Coast Guard. At around 1a.m. on March 21, 2009 detectives say party-goers had an altercation outside the home on NW 13th Street and 2nd Avenue in Homestead.

Carolyn McKechnie, Corey's mother, says she heard a lot of noise and when she walked outside she found her son dead in the middle of the road.

“It was like my world fell apart, and it did because my life has not been the same since then,” said McKechnie.

Miami Dade Police say someone in the bed of a dark-colored pickup truck fired multiple shots.

“The shooter shot one shot in the air and then pointed the gun to the crowd and began to fire as what the witnesses describe as indiscriminately,” said a Miami Dade Police homicide detective who cannot be identified.

According to investigators, 19-year-old McKechnie died on scene. Two others were also shot and injured.

"We believe that most of the subjects were Latin males and the ones that were in the back of the pickup truck were wearing bandanas covering their faces,” said the detective.

Witnesses tell police at least six people were in the pickup truck, but it appears none of them attended the party or had any personal connection to the guests.The lead detective says he believes it was a street gang operating in the area, however, the motive is unclear.

Eight years later, Carolyn opens her son's high school journal hoping to close the most difficult chapter of her life. She prays someone can come forward with information about her son's case to help her find peace and healing.

“You hear rest in peace all the time and how can someone truly rest in peace when there’s no closure,” said McKechnie.

If you have any information that may lead to an arrest call CrimeStoppers anonymously at 305-471-TIPS. You may be eligible for up to a $3,000 reward.

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