An 11-year-old girl and her father were injured after gunfire broke out in the parking lot of a McDonald’s, where a stray bullet struck the child in the head and, doctors say, cannot be safely removed.
Dora Belen Rivera and her father, Oscar Roman Miron, were seated in an SUV outside a McDonald’s in Hallandale Beach on June 27, waiting for their food, when shots were fired in the lot, according to Hallandale Beach police and local media reports.
Authorities said 18-year-old Ralph N-Kosi Blue, who was reportedly preparing to begin his shift at the fast-food restaurant, allegedly fired at someone running toward him. The gunfire hit Rivera in the head and her father in the hip, NBC 6 South Florida reported.
Video obtained by the station captured the chaotic moments as two men moved around the family’s vehicle and took cover while Blue allegedly fired multiple rounds. Screams could be heard coming from inside the SUV, which was struck by bullets.
“Oscar and his family became innocent victims of a senseless act of gun violence while sitting inside their vehicle in the parking lot of a McDonald’s in Hallandale Beach,” relatives wrote on a GoFundMe page created for the family.
“Oscar and his family had no involvement whatsoever in the incident,” the fundraiser added.
Police said two other children, ages 2 and 5, were also inside the vehicle during the shooting but were not injured.
Rivera and her father were taken to a nearby hospital. The girl underwent surgery and remains in stable condition, though the bullet remains lodged in her head, according to reports.
“Doctors have advised the family that they are not removing the bullet at this time because doing so could cause even greater harm,” the fundraiser said, noting her father was released and is recovering at home.
“She continues to receive specialized medical care and faces a long road to recovery.”
A photo included in the GoFundMe, which has raised more than $12,000, shows the young girl in a hospital gown surrounded by family and first responders.
The alleged shooter, who fled the scene, was arrested two days after a tireless search and slapped with two counts of aggravated battery and two counts of aggravated assault, police said.
Blue is being held without bond at the Broward County Jail and has since been fired from McDonald’s.
“We are devastated by the shooting that occurred outside our restaurant,” Brad Ashlin, owner and operator of the McDonald’s location, told People in a statement.
“Our thoughts are with the father and young daughter who were injured, as well as their family during this difficult time. The individual reported to be involved is no longer employed at our organization.
“We will continue to support the Hallandale Beach Police Department, including providing surveillance footage and any assistance needed for their investigation.”
