2 Arrests Made In Slaying Of Miami-Dade Teenager

MIAMI, FL — Miami-Dade police said Friday they have made two arrests in the slaying of a 16-year-old girl outside a popular Miami-Dade restaurant that Miami schools chief Alberto M. Carvalho called "infuriating and tragic" earlier this week. Police said they are still searching for the shooter, who is believed to have fled the country.

Twenty-year-old Loidel Gomez-Rouco and 22-year-old Mario Pedro Conley-Hernandez, both of Miami, were each charged with being an accessory after the fact, according to Miami-Dade police.

"Both of them were present at the time of the shooting," Detective Alvaro Zabaleta told Patch on Friday. He said investigators believe the shooter has fled the country.

"Detectives are not ready to divulge where he has fled to and they are not ready to give his name out," Zabaleta told Patch.

Ana Alvarez-Hernandez was hit by a stray bullet as she was running to seek cover in the parking lot of the 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant near Miami International Airport around 2:45 a.m. Sunday morning, said police, adding that the shot was fired during a fight between two groups of males.

"During the fight, at least one of the male subjects pulled a gun from a vehicle and began shooting towards the other group," Miami-Dade police said earlier. "Ana Hernandez, amongst numerous others, ran to seek cover from the gunfire but was struck once and seriously wounded."

Detectives believe Gomez-Rouco spoke with the shooter by telephone and was told that he planned to leave the country.

"He told him that he intended to flee and [Gomez-Rouco] did not notify authorities which resulted in [the shooter] catching a flight," said Zabaleta, adding that Conley-Hernandez also allegedly knew who fired the fatal shot, but did not notify law enforcement.

A spokeswoman for Miami-Dade County Public Schools told Patch that Alvarez-Hernandez was a student in the district but did not release the name of her school.

"It is infuriating and tragic that a young woman with so much promise could lose her life in such a senseless way — victim of an indiscriminate bullet that should never have been fired," Carvalho said earlier in the week on social media. "My deepest condolences to Ana’s family during this unbearable time."

Alvarez-Hernandez was taken to a nearby hospital by a friend, where she was pronounced dead, according to Miami-Dade police. The restaurant is located at 1395 NW 57th Avenue.

Miami-Dade police have increased the reward in the case by $5,000 for any tips that lead to the arrest of Alvarez-Hernandez' murderer. Police said the tipster may be eligible for a Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers reward of up to $8,000. All calls will be kept anonymous.

To report a tip, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477) or 866-471-8477; Visit www.crimestoppersmiami.com and select "Give a Tip," or text CSMD followed by the tip to 274637.