Police See Possible Link Among Homeless Shootings Near Miami

MIAMI, FL — Three homeless people were shot — two of them fatally — within blocks of one another over the last weekend in 2019 and Miami-Dade police are now attempting to determine if someone is targeting homeless victims around the Miami area, Patch has learned.

"They are only four to six blocks from each other and all three people are homeless," Detective Lee Cowart of the Miami-Dade Police Department confirmed in an interview Thursday night. "Our detectives determined it’s better to be safe than sorry and get out in front of it."

Ronald L. Book, who chairs the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, called the shootings disheartening on Friday.

"This is why we work endlessly to bring people off the streets and into shelter; street life is extremely dangerous and lives are at risk every day," he told Patch. "The Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust is working with authorities investigating the shootings and will continue to lend support in any way we can in an effort to solve these cases."

Book urged anyone with information to come forward.

"We urge anyone with information about these senseless acts of violence in taking the lives of the most vulnerable in our society and the most vulnerable amongst us, to come forward with such information to Crime Stoppers," he said. "We must bring these individuals to justice, swiftly.”

Cowart said investigators are appealing to homeless organizations around Miami like the Homeless Trust for help in finding those responsible.

"We're trying to get anybody in the community that knows what happened, saw something suspicious, to reach out and call the homicide bureau or Crime Stoppers," according to Cowart. "We're working with the homeless population. We're working with homeless shelters and people who provide services to the homeless."

Cowart said police discovered the first two victims at Oak Grove Park shortly after 7 a.m. on Dec. 27. The park is located at 690 NE 159 Street on Dec. 27 in Miami-Dade County.

"A 9-1-1 caller advised that there were two victims lying near the restroom at the park," Cowart said.

One of the homeless victims was identified as 40-year-old Rony Dassas, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

"The other adult male is 46-years-old," Cowart said. "We haven't divulged his name yet ... The adult male is also suffering from apparent gunshot wounds."

That man was in critical condition at an area hospital as of Thursday night.

On Dec. 29, a 9-1-1 caller reported seeing a third homeless victim on an abandoned property in the 16000 block of NE 4 Avenue.

"As I understand it, there is a structure on this abandoned property and that victim was suffering from an apparent gunshot wound or wounds," Cowart said.

He identified the third victim as 41-year-old Donna D. Edwards, who was pronounced dead on the scene.

"She was discovered outside the structure on the property," Cowart said. In addition to being homeless, all three of the victims were in their 40s and all three were black.

Miami-Dade police from the Intracoastal District responded to all three shootings as did Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.

The body of a fourth homeless person was discovered on Dec. 15 under the Miami-Dade Metrorail in the rear of the 3000 block of SW 28 Lane in the city of Miami, according to Officer Mike Vega of the Miami Police Department.

It was not immediately clear if that person was the victim of a homicide or if that case is related to the others.

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.