The mother of one of the people who was injured in a shooting at a Miramar gas station spoke out Thursday, saying her son fired his gun because he was defending himself.
The shooting happened Tuesday night at a Sunoco gas station near Pembroke Road. Three men – including 18-year-old J’Shaun Williams – were shot. Christian Corea, 19, died.
“My son is not a killer; he was protecting himself,” said Breshaunda Tanner, Williams’ mother. “He shot my son first, so it’s self-defense, see.”
Officials with the City of Miramar said the incident began when a person walked up to a car at the gas station, leading to the altercation and an exchange of gunfire. Surveillance video shows three people exchanging handshakes before they began exchanging gunfire next to a Mercedes sedan.
One angle shows at least two armed gunmen shooting at each other over the hood of the Mercedes before both flee in different directions.
Corea was killed at the scene. A bullet also hit a man who was across the street.
Tanner, who saw the surveillance video, said her son had a gun and fired it. She believes her son met up with two other people at a gas station to exchange something.
“As he was trying to retrieve what they took from him, the boy in the black shot my son,” Tanner said.
“His intentions wasn’t to kill anybody, his intentions was to do whatever transaction they were there to do and walk home,” Tanner said. “If I could rewind all of the events and I was at home and not at work, maybe I could have stopped my son from walking to the store.”
On Thursday, Miramar Police were back at the gas station, where a small memorial was set up for Corea. His mother said he was expecting his first child.
“I need to know the why, I want to know why,” Jennifer Mercedes said. “You’re not going to have, hey mom, I love you, how was your day, you’re so beautiful, I miss you. They did not just take my son; they took my best friend.”
Williams, who has undergone surgery, is being detained by police, Tanner said. Even though her son did shoot his gun, she doesn’t believe he killed anyone.
“I don’t think my son is responsible for shooting that guy, the lady’s son. I don’t, in my heart, I feel like he did not shoot him,” Tanner said. “My heart bleeds for the lady who lost her son.”
Police are still searching for the person who fled the gas station after the shooting.
Want more insights? Join Working Title - our career elevating newsletter and get the future of work delivered weekly.
