Teen arrested in miami attempted murder case
August 20, 2009
City of Miami Police arrested an 18 year-old teenager for a double fatal shooting at a birthday party last month in Overtown, Miami. Rodney Miller has been arrested for two counts of
second degree murder for his involvement in a shooting that left two people dead and several other wounded. Either a
Miami criminal attorney from The Office of the Public Defender will be appointed to represent Miller, or he will retain a private criminal defense lawyer.
Miller was arrested by the City of Miami Police Department around 1:00 a.m. in Liberty Square. Members of the City of Miami Police Department Robbery Intervention Detail made the arrest. Miller has a long criminal record which includes eight arrests for
burglary, battery, resisting arrest and various or violent crimes.
The shooting occurred near NW 5th Street and NW 5th Avenue on July 6, 2009 at approximately 12:45 a.m. Several gunmen carrying high-powered weapons entered a birthday party and fired guns into a crowd of about 200 people. As a result of the shooting two people died and several more were hospitalized. Miami police would not disclose how they tracked Miller down or determined that he was a suspect. However, the police did say that help from the community was instrumental in the arrest. They applauded the number of Crime Stopper tips and a number of phone calls that led to the arrest.
Miami Police Chief John Timoney appeared at a press conference with several of the victim's family members. Timoney told reporters that the arrest is a small amount of justice relative to the seriousness of the crime and that more justice needs to be done because others involved in the crime are still out there. Police still have not released possible motives for the shootings.
Michelle Coleman, 21, of Miami, Florida and Anthony Smith, 17, also of Miami, Florida were killed in the shootings. At the press conference, Coleman's aunt told reporters that the arrest does nothing to take away the pain, but more arrests need to be made. Smith's grandmother relayed that Smith had received a full scholarship to UCLA just days after his death. She said that an opportunity was given to him and taken away by the stupid, senseless actions of others.
Teen Arrested in Overtown Party Shootings, The Miami Herald, August 20, 2009.
