Four people shot, two fatally, in Liberty City

Four men have been shot in the Liberty Square area of Liberty City, Miami police said. Two are dead, including a 17-year-old boy.

Police said the other two men are being treated at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Officials are still looking for the shooter, noting that there is possibly more than one. None of the victims have been officially identified.

“I can’t understand how these people live over here. They can’t come out of their houses,” said the 17-year-old’s cousin, who identified the young man who died on the scene as “Ricky.”

“We don’t know if this was a vindictive act,” said Miami Police spokeswoman Kiara Delva, adding that the four “young males” were sitting down outside a home in Liberty Square — a 753-unit Miami-Dade public housing apartment complex — when the shots rang out.

“We don’t know if it is gang related. There’s a lot we don’t know yet,” Delva said.

Sunday afternoon’s shooting occurred at Northwest 63rd Street and 13th Avenue, two blocks south of where 4-year-old Nyla Jones was fatally shot last week. A makeshift memorial still stands in remembrance of the young girl.

Yellow crime tape blocked off surrounding streets as detectives canvassed the neighborhood to interview witnesses.

“We know everyone out here because we’re here so often,” said one police officer, as he knocked on doors.

Residents of the neighborhood gathered at a police cordon at 63rd Street and 13th Avenue at around 4:30 p.m., anxious to find out if their loved ones were among the victims.

But in some cases, news came faster than police could even react

One middle-aged woman answered her ringing cellphone, listened a moment, and shrieked in anguish.

“Oh my God, it was him! Oh my God, it was my baby!” she cried.

Bystanders clustered around, embracing the sobbing woman. Some of them were less comforting than bitter.

“Every time this happens, we just say OK and walk away,” one woman declared. “But it’s not OK. Nothing is OK about this situation.” the the