3-Year-Old Boy Dies After Being Shot at Miami Birthday Party

3-Year-Old Boy Dies After Being Shot at Miami Birthday Party
Elijiah LaFrance (Miami-Dade Police)
Jack Phillips
4/25/2021
Updated:
4/25/2021

A 3-year-old boy died after being shot at a Miami birthday party, officials in Miami-Dade said over the weekend.

Officials said they discovered the child suffering from an apparent gunshot injury when responding to a ShotSpotter alert, according to a release posted on the Miami-Dade government website on Saturday.
Miami-Dade Police identified the boy as Elijah LaFrance.

“The officers swiftly placed the 3-year-old in a police vehicle and transported him to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries,” said the website’s news release. “As other officers arrived, they discovered a second victim that had also been shot.”

Miami-Dade emergency personnel responded and took the other victim, identified as an adult female, to Aventura Hospital in stable condition, officials said.

“The preliminary investigation revealed that the victims were attending a child’s birthday party at the residence, which is a short-term rental. The subject fled in an unknown direction and remains at large,” according to the release.

According to a report from local media, police said that the property where the toddler was shot was an AirBnb rental in the Golden Glades neighborhood.

Marc Anderson, a neighbor, told Local10 that between 30 and 50 shots were fired.

“People were running, so we ducked behind his truck and some people ran and hid behind these two trucks,” Anderson said, adding that he was working on a truck when the shots rang out.

An investigation into the matter is ongoing. Police said they’re offering a reward of up to $5,000 for tips to help their investigation and that leads to an arrest. Those with information can contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS.

Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter with 15 years experience who started as a local New York City reporter. Having joined The Epoch Times' news team in 2009, Jack was born and raised near Modesto in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
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