New Evidence Clears Suspects In Liberty City Murders

MIAMI, FL — Hours after holding a press conference to announce a breakthrough in the slayings of 18-year-old Rickey Dixon and 17-year-old Kimson Green, Miami police abruptly dropped the charges against both suspects they arrested over the weekend and cancelled a warrant for a third. The dramatic shift in the high-profile case was based on new video evidence. The April 8 killings sparked community outrage and led to stepped up patrols in the Liberty City area of the city.

Anthony Clinch and Yaairnes Rashad Bryant were each charged with two counts of first-degree murder on Saturday. Those charges were dropped after the unspecified evidence surfaced sometime Monday afternoon.

"Miami Police investigators reviewed a video which appears to support an alibi for one of the individuals arrested for the murders of Rickey Dixon and Kimson Lee Green — Mr. Anthony Clinch," according to Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina, who held a press conference earlier in the day with Mayor Francis Suarez to discuss the arrests and ask for the public's help in finding a third man.

"In light of the new evidence, the homicide charges against Mr. Clinch are being dropped, as are the charges against Yaairnes Rashad Bryant," the chief said in a subsequent statement. "We would also like to advise the public that we are cancelling the active warrant for Deondre McDuffy."

Colina said at the news conference that police had also been looking for the 19-year-old McDuffy in connection with the shootings that also left two others seriously injured. Green was an honor student at Miami Northwestern Sr. High School and Dixon was a former student at the school. Two other gunshot victims were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center in the incident.

Suarez told reporters at the news conference that Clinch and Bryant were arrested by the SWAT team without incident. He credited the stepped up police presence with reducing the number of murders in the area.

"I think it's very important for us to note that we have not had a homicide in the North District in four weeks," the mayor said at the press conference. "To put that into perspective, in a good year — in a very good year — we averaged one homicide per week. So, to not have had one in four weeks is approximating a record in the city of Miami."

The shootings sparked outrage in the community and led fellow Miami Northwestern students to take to the streets to protest the gun violence that has plagued the community.

Colina said he had no choice but to drop the charges based on the evidence.

"While the Miami Police Department is committed to the pursuit of justice, it is equally committed to the protection of the innocent," he explained. "We would like to assure the public that we will continue to maintain the highest possible ethical standards as we strive to keep our community safe."

To report a tip, contact Detective F. Lubin or any detective of the Miami Police Department at 305-603-6350. Alternatively, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477) or 866-471-8477, visit crimestoppersmiami.com and select "Give a Tip" or text "CSMD" followed by the tip to 274637.

Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina said he had no choice but to drop the charges against the suspects arrested in the Liberty City murders. Photo by Paul Scicchitano.