The reward offered for information regarding the shooting that left three-year-old Elijah LaFrance dead last month, has gone up to $67,500.
"To the shooter, we're not going to stop. We’re coming for you," Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo Ramirez said during a press conference on Wednesday, as reported by Fox News.
A tweet on behalf of Miami-Dade Police read, "SEEKING INFORMATION: On 4/24/21, 3-year-old Elijah LaFrance was killed in the area of N. Miami Avenue & NE 158 Street. The reward on this case has increased to up to $67,500. Anyone with information is urged to contact @CrimeStopper305 at (305) 471-8477 or by dialing **TIPS."
? SEEKING INFORMATION: On 4/24/21, 3-year-old Elijah LaFrance was killed in the area of N. Miami Avenue & NE 158 Street. The reward on this case has increased to up to $67,500. Anyone with information is urged to contact @CrimeStopper305 at (305) 471-8477 or by dialing **TIPS. pic.twitter.com/r0g13LohsA
— Miami-Dade Police (@MiamiDadePD) May 26, 2021
On April 24, a car pulled up and unidentified shooters fired off several rounds, and killed Elijah. A 21-year-old woman was also injured during the shooting.
The family had held the the child's birthday party at an Airbnb short-term rental on 158 Street in Miami. It was attended by close friends and relatives. They were busy cleaning up after the party while Elijah was standing in the doorway of the property when he got shot. The unknown shooter or shooters fled the scene, police said, reported ABC News.
Crime Stoppers Miami and the Florida Keys announced the increased reward amount on Wednesday. Earlier, the reward sum was $5,000. Then it was increased to $15,000.
Elijah’s mother, Terrissa Barron, saw her child being gunned down. She said that her son’s last word was "Mommy." "We can't sleep at night. We can't eat. Our life basically stopped on April 24," she added.
"I lost something that I can never get back," Elijah's mother said during the press conference. "Just please, please, if you know something, please say something," she added.
It is unclear how many suspects were involved in the shooting, but police said that the unidentified shooters fired over five dozen shots from several weapons. "Unknown subjects armed with various semiautomatic weapons, to include rifles, arrived on the scene and began discharging the firearms towards the residents," said detective Kevin Thelwell.
"Ultimately striking and killing Elijah LaFrance." He called the incident "despicable." "This was careless. These were shooters, these were cowards, to take the life of a three-year-old child," Thelwell added.
The child's aunt attempted CPR and called 911. The boy was rushed to a hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries. The injured woman was taken to a hospital in stable condition. After her treatment, she was released, according to police.
