The father of one of the victims fatally shot outside a Miami banquet hall Sunday morning interrupted a news conference, where he expressed his anguish following his son’s death, numerous sources reported.
Clayton Dillard was escorted away by police after approaching Miami-Dade Police Director Freddy Ramirez during the news conference, yelling “You all killed my kid, you must burn,” video shows.
“You’re gonna burn, you hear me,” Dillard said. “You killed a good kid, for no reason. You’re gonna burn.”
Clayton Dillard III- one of two people shot and killed in the overnight mass shooting in NW Miami Dade that left dozens injured, two on life support and several in critical condition. Updates and details on @WPLGLocal10 at 6pm. https://t.co/4pYufQ9C6u pic.twitter.com/niYCru5680
— Saira Anwer (@SairaWPLG) May 30, 2021
His son, 26-year-old Clayton Dillard III, was one of two people killed in the shooting. There were 21 others injured, ABC News reported.
STOP THE VIOLENCE!@MDPD_Director: “that is the pain that affects our community right there right before you”
Victim’s father breaks down during briefing.
If you have any information on this shooting, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. https://t.co/RGZvj3OGYj pic.twitter.com/pcjzKwkGWj
— WSVN 7 News (@wsvn) May 31, 2021
“That’s the pain that affects our community right there,” Ramirez said as Dillard was escorted away.
Police say three people got out of an SUV early Sunday and began shooting “indiscriminately into the crowd” outside a “scheduled event,” NBC News reported. The venue of the event was a banquet hall. The gunmen allegedly waited outside for about 40 minutes before opening fire on patrons as they left, according to ABC News.
Police say some patrons returned fire, and more than 100 shell casings were found at the scene of the shooting. The three gunmen used semi-automatic rifles and wore ski masks and hooded sweatshirts, according to the Miami Herald.
Investigators say they believe the shooting was a dispute between two rival groups. The event venue, El Mula Banquet Hall, was hosting a weekend album release party the night before the shooting, featuring local rappers, including ABMG Spitta, the Miami Herald reported.
Three of the 21 wounded victims are reportedly in critical condition and three have been released, including a 17-year-old teenager. The victims’ ages ranged from 17 to 32 years old. The other man who was fatally shot was 26-year-old Desmond Owens, the Miami Herald reported.
Police confirm this is the Pathfinder. It was reported stolen 5/15, according to @MiamiDadePD pic.twitter.com/GZMQkKPmQA
— Janine Stanwood (@JanineWPLG) May 31, 2021
The news conference occurred hours before police announced that divers had found the Nissan Pathfinder used in the shooting submerged in a canal called Key Biscayne, Local 10 reported. The vehicle was reported stolen on May 15, police told Local 10. It was captured on a video showing the three gunmen leaving the vehicle.
Police are still searching for the shooters, although the investigation is made more complicated by people’s fear of retaliation if they break the code of silence on the streets, according to the Miami Herald. (RELATED: Surveillance Video Shows San Jose Gunman Moments Before Mass Shooting)
There is a $130,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case. Marcus Lemonis, the host of “The Profit,” contributed $100,000 to to the reward, according to Local 10.
“All of us, we must work harder to bring justice to these families who are crying as you hear right now. Know that the Miami-Dade Police Department will not stop. We will bring justice. Our community is united,” Ramirez said during the news conference.