Miami-Dade Schools Chief Calls Student Shooting 'Infuriating'

MIAMI, FL — Miami schools chief Alberto M. Carvalho called the shooting of a 16-year-old girl outside a popular Miami-Dade restaurant "infuriating and tragic" as police appealed to the community for help in finding the teenager's killer.

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, according to Detective Chris Thomas of the Miami-Dade Police Department, who said 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," Thomas said. "Ana Hernandez, amongst numerous others, ran to seek cover from the gunfire but was struck once and seriously wounded."

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 on social media Tuesday. "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 Thomas. The restaurant is located at 1395 NW 57th Avenue.

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.