Miami-Dade

ALLAPATTAH

Relatives take to the streets for clues in the murder of Miami teen

 

A 16-year-old boy was shot to death Saturday morning as he rode his bike to a friend’s house.

 

Alberto Carvalho, right, superintendant of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and Anabel Herrera, left, mother of victim Bryan Herrera,  hand out fliers asking for information in the shooting of Bryan Herrera. Herrera, 16, was shot and killed while riding his bicycle on Dec. 22, 2012.
Alberto Carvalho, right, superintendant of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and Anabel Herrera, left, mother of victim Bryan Herrera, hand out fliers asking for information in the shooting of Bryan Herrera. Herrera, 16, was shot and killed while riding his bicycle on Dec. 22, 2012.
C.M. GUERRERO / EL NUEVO HERALD

bmedina@elNuevoHerald.com

The grieving parents of a slain 16-year-old boy took to the streets Thursday in an effort to find who killed the Miami Jackson Senior High 10th-grader.

Bryan Herrera — who will be buried Friday — was shot to death days before Christmas while riding his bicycle in Allapattah.

Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho helped Bryan’s parents hand out fliers Thursday.

“We want to help the police in the investigation and call on the community to cooperate. If anyone knows anything, please speak up,” Carvalho urged. “Losing a child for no reason should not simply be a fact we accept. We must question why these things happen.’’

Bryan was fatally wounded at 11 a.m. on Saturday as he rode his bike to a friend’s house to work on a school project. A motorist saw the teen on the pavement at Northwest 11th Avenue and 39th Street and alerted others to call 911.

Bryan was rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, where he died.

Katherine Herrera, Bryan’s sister, said the family had “a horrible, painful Christmas.”

“We are trying to find who committed this crime and we need all the help possible,” she told a young man as she taped a flier to a light pole.

Ency Quintero, Bryan’s mother, said: “Armed, bad, and dangerous people should not be free in the streets. We want to prevent another family from suffering they way we are suffering.”

Carlos Rios, the principal at Jackson High, said the tragedy has shocked students and teachers, who have joined the campaign to find the teen’s killer.

“He was a great student; his teachers say wonderful things about him,” Rios said of Bryan, who wanted to study robotic engineering.

Miami police are asking anyone with information to call 305-603-6350. If you wish to give information anonymously, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-4877.

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