A 16-year-old suspect was in custody after police said he shot two 12-year-olds at a school bus stop in northwest Miami-Dade during an armed robbery attempt Thursday morning.
Miami-Dade Police officials said the shooting took place in the 11100 block of Northwest 8th Avenue in Pinewood just before 8 a.m.
The two 12-year-olds were waiting to be picked up by their school bus when the armed 16-year-old approached them and demanded their property, Miami-Dade Police Det. Argemis Colome said.
When the kids wouldn't hand over their property, the teen shot them then fled on foot.
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Both 12-year-olds were taken to local hospitals where they're expected to survive.
The older sister of one of the boys, who she identified as Gosue Cameus, said she called 911 after he walked home for help.
"I heard a knock on the door, then I opened the door, he just fell into my arms and say 'I got shot, I got shot,'" Shelsee Cameus said.
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She said her brother, who'd just turned 12 a few days ago, was shot in the upper thigh and hand.
"There's no reason why a kid should get access to a weapon and hurt somebody, it shouldn't even be happening in the first place," Shelsee Cameus said.
Police responded and set up a perimeter as the suspect was seen running on foot through backyards, Colome said.
Footage showed officers in tactical gear responding to the neighborhood to search for the teen.
After a brief search, the teen was found and taken into custody. Three firearms, a rifle and two handguns, were recovered, police said.
"These are two juveniles, two 12-year-olds, could be our children, they're just going to school, that is the last thing that any parent has on their mind, that their 12-year-olds that are waiting to go to school are going to get shot at," Colome said. "Fortunately they are recovering but we could have been at a much deeper tragedy today."
Police haven't released the teen's identity or said what charges he'll face. Colome said detectives are still trying to determine if the teen knew the victims, and how he got the firearms.
Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo Ramirez said he was "appalled" that the teen had the three weapons.
"I am deeply disturbed that he used one of these firearms to shoot two of our innocent children. No parent should have to worry about their child while they wait for the school bus," Ramirez said in a statement. "We could have lost two lives today, and now three families are affected by senseless gun violence. These issues begin at home and can be addressed early on. We will continue to be a presence and resource in our community."
The shooting happened just hours after two teens were wounded in a separate shooting in Hialeah Wednesday night.
