Reward Rises In Fatal Shooting of 2-Year-Old Miami Boy

MIAMI, FL - The family of a 2-year-old Miami boy is asking for anyone with information about the boy's fatal shooting last week at a public housing project to come forward. The family held a press conference Thursday to make a public plea to find the shooter of Carnell Williams-Thomas, who was hit by a bullet as the boy was riding his scooter outside.

A $30,000 reward is now being offered for information leading to an arrest in the fatal shooting. "Somebody knows something," said Dorothy Williams, the boy's mother. "I need you to say something. They took my baby."

Miami-Dade police distributed flyers on Monday in the southwest Miami-Dade housing complex where the toddler was shot and killed three days earlier. The child was gunned down as he played in an outdoor courtyard.

A GoFundMe page set up to help pay for the toddler's funeral expenses reached $6,318 in donations as of Thursday.

"This is what they give you when your child in trouble. They give you this bear and tell you to hold on like you're holding your child. And I haven't let go since. I can't let go," Dorothy Williams said at the press conference.

"Carnell was outside his home in Goulds when he was killed by a stray bullet," according to the GoFundMe page. "No parent should have to bury their baby. During this holiday season of giving please donate what you can. I believe giving back is one of the greatest life lessons we can teach our children; that the world isn't all about the them and that. Through our actions, people will really discover what kind of a person we truly are."

The child was airlifted to Kendall Regional Hospital after being struck by gunfire around 6:15 p.m. He was pronounced dead a short time later, according to Miami-Dade police, who said the incident occurred in the 21000 block of SW 114 Court.

"According to investigators, officers from South District responded to the area of SW 214 Street and SW 114 Court, to reports of a child shot," Detective Argemis Colome told Patch. Colome said that officers discovered the child suffering from a gunshot wound in an outdoor courtyard.

To report a tip, call Miami-Dade Police Department Homicide Detective M. Parmenter at 305-471-2400. 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.

Photo courtesy GoFundMe