Miami Community Reeling From Shooting Death Of 16-Year-Old Boy

MIAMI, FL — Miami's Liberty City community is reeling from the shooting death of a 16-year-old boy and Miami-Dade police are asking for the public's help in finding the gunman.

Neighbors said Nalton Johnson, Jr. stood out for his love of sports and his polite demeanor. Police said the boy was placed on life support at Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center. He died Monday.

“This date, at approximately 8:06 a.m., Ryder Trauma Center, medical staff pronounced Master Nalton Johnson Jr. deceased,” Detective Lee Cowart of the Miami-Dade Police Department said Monday.

Miami-Dade police said Johnson was shot at 10:25 p.m. Friday night at the Lincoln Fields Apartments. The complex is located at NW 64 Street and NW 20 Avenue in Miami-Dade County.

"Inexplicably, a 16-year-old boy sustained a gunshot wound to the head," Miami schools chief Alberto M. Carvalho said over the weekend. "Prayers and thoughts, alone, won’t help."

To report a tip, call Homicide Detective J. Sabel of the Miami-Dade Police Department at 305-471-2400. Alternatively, 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 information to 274637.