Rasheed Cunningham Jr. was on his way home from his cousin's birthday party when someone opened fire, authorities said.
An 8-year-old boy was shot and killed as he walked home from a cousin’s birthday party, authorities said.
Rasheed Cunningham Jr. had left the gathering just a few doors down from his Dania Beach, Florida, home and was walking with several other family members when shots rang out Wednesday evening, according to the Broward County Sheriff’s office.
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His grandmother collapsed in grief outside the home she shared with Rasheed, when she learned he was dead, CBS Miami reported. Rasheed's birthday is Jan. 9.
A neighbor told the station that a black car pulled up and someone jumped out wearing a ski mask and fired round after round into the group.
“You can hear ‘pow, pow, pow, pow, pow, pow,’ then they jump back in the car, slam the door and went back in reverse,” said Veronica Larkens.
Cousin Brandon Cunningham was shot several times in the back as he tried to shield the children in the group, and a woman and a young girl were also wounded, the Florida Sun-Sentinel reported. Their conditions were not known.
The shooting was the fourth since Christmas in the southern Florida city between Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale. Two people have been killed and several others wounded, the paper reported.
"The shooting needs to stop. A child is dead. Our detectives have been working around the clock trying to put this together, get information, evidence, sworn statements.
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"People should be allowed to be outside in front of their home ... children should be allowed to go outside and play," said Broward Sheriff’s spokeswoman Veda Coleman-Wright.
Three of the shootings are believed to be related, authorities said.
Investigators are seeking the public’s help.
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