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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Dad Sues County for Shooting of Children

MIAMI (CN) - Dade County should have prevented a July 2011 shooting at a youth football practice in a county park that left four children wounded, one child's father claims in court.

Gunmen jumped out of cars and sprayed bullets into an early evening youth football league practice at West Little River Park at 5:30 p.m. on July 27, 2011, injuring four children.

Witnesses said the guns looked like AK-47s, according to Miami news reports.

Plaintiff football coach Eduardo Barnes is the father of 16-year-old Zamaria, who was shot. Three other boys, 14, 11, and 3, were also hit. No one died.

Barnes sued Miami-Dade County and South Florida Youth Football (SFYF), on behalf of his wounded daughter.

"During the course of plaintiff's visit, criminal activity ensued. Gunshots were fired and struck plaintiff in her back, thereby causing serious injuries and damages," Barnes says in the complaint.

"The county and SFYF had actual or constructive knowledge of similar criminal acts committed at or near the county's premises, which SFYF used to operate its business."

Barnes says the county and the football league had a duty "to protect its patrons from third party criminal attacks that are reasonably foreseeable."

He seeks damages for negligence, attorney's fees and costs.

He is represented by Anthony Georges-Pierre, with Remer & Georges-Pierre.

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