Halloween Party Murder: 3 Teens Accused In Brazen Attack

MIAMI, FL — Three Miami-Dade teenagers have been accused in the brazen attack of a 15-year-old honor student who was gunned down over the weekend while attending a Halloween party in southwest Miami-Dade.

Angel Cueli of the 9300 block of SW 30 Terrace, who was described as an honor student in a GoFundMe set up to help his family with funeral expenses, was shot shortly after 11 p.m. Saturday in the 20000 block of SW 132 Avenue.

Seventeen-year-old Josue Cao of the 7400 block of SW 107th Avenue was charged with second-degree murder along with two 18-year-olds —Matthew R. Hernandez of the 7900 block of SW 37th Terrace and Marcos M. Gonzalez of the 9300 block of SW 40th Terrace, Miami-Dade police said Wednesday morning.

Court documents identified Gonzalez as the alleged driver and said the shooting was gang related.

"The defendant was fully aware that the co-defendants were armed with firearms and intended to shoot at members of their rival gang," court documents said of Gonzalez.

"Co-defendant Cao and his co-defendant Hernandez fired their pistols at a crowd of partygoers, ultimately striking the victim rendering him incapacitated," court documents explained.

Detective Angel Rodriguez of the Miami-Dade Police Department told Patch Cueli was not the intended target.

"He was an innocent bystander," the detective said.

Cao was also charged with discharging a firearm from a vehicle and tampering with an electronic device while Hernandez was also charged with discharging a firearm from a vehicle.

"Guests were attending a house party and were gathered on the side of the residence," at the time of the shooting, according to Rodriguez.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel airlifted Cueli to Kendall Regional Trauma Center.

"The doctors tried everything they could to keep him alive, however, hours later he succumbed to his wounds," said the GoFundMe, which had raised $21,657 as of Wednesday morning.

The boy's father, Alfredo Cueli, told WPLG-TV that a neighbor told him his son had been shot.

He called his son's mobile phone twice but didn't get an answer. "My heart just hit my food," he said. "I already knew there was something serious happening."

Miami-Dade schools chief Alberto M. Carvalho had urged the community to help police catch the boy's killer.

"Thoughts and prayers will do little to bring solace or alleviate the gut-wrenching pain being felt today by the family of teen killed last night during a Halloween party," Carvalho said on Sunday.

No other teenagers were hurt during the shooting.

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

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