Kayla Rincon-Miller was killed in Florida. (Crime scene photo from Cape Coral Police Department; victim’s photo from GoFundMe)
Police are searching for a gunman who killed a 15-year-old girl in a street stickup as she and two friends were headed to McDonald’s after a movie night out during spring break in Florida.
Kayla Rincon-Miller was shot on Sunday night in the 2000 block of Southeast 16th Place, Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore said at a Monday news conference.
“It should strike a nerve that a young, vibrant 15-year-old girl was shot dead in the street,” Sizemore said.
Sizemore said Kayla was killed when a car pulled up and blinded the girls with their headlights. The assailants jumped out of the car and tried to rob them. One of them began to shoot. Kayla was struck in the chest, police said.
The vehicle the shooter was in then fled south.
Someone called 911 at 9:39 p.m. Officers responded within minutes and began lifesaving efforts until emergency medical services arrived and took Kayla to a hospital, where she died.
Sizemore provided few details about the case and urged the public to come forward with information.
Family members and friends, meanwhile, were shattered. Kayla brought joy and light into her parents’ lives, an online fundraising website said.
“Her passing has left our family devastated, mourning the loss of this beautiful soul,” said the GoFundMe set up to raise money for medical and funeral expenses.
Friend Bailee Powell told local NBC affiliate WBBH-TV that she was shocked.
“[I’m] honestly not good at all. I’ve been crying all day every time I think of her … I like, it’s not real. I’m in denial right now,” she said. “She’s just literally my best friend since I can’t even imagine. We went everywhere together, football games, track meet, Sunsplash.”
“She was like my passenger princess, like she was always in my car. I would like go get my hair done and we would just sit there, wherever, or sometimes the gas station, not even buy anything,” Elyse De Jesus said. “You need God. What if it was your best friend or your sister?”
