Police said shots erupted near Charles Hadley Park, and a rifle was found.
MIAMI, FL — A 19-year-old was killed and two 18-year-olds were wounded in a triple shooting Monday evening in Miami’s Liberty City neighborhood, police said. Officers found the victim after reports of gunfire near Northwest 51st Street and 13th Avenue, and he later died at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
The shooting, reported about 6:45 p.m., set off an intense investigation in a residential area near Charles Hadley Park, where neighbors said they heard a burst of shots and then saw people scatter. Police said the two survivors suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were expected to recover. Investigators said they were working to determine what led to the gunfire, how many people fired, and whether the dead teen had a role in the shooting.
Police said officers were sent to the area after a ShotSpotter alert and 911 calls signaled multiple rounds had been fired in an alleyway by Northwest 51st Street and Northwest 13th Avenue. When officers arrived, they found a 19-year-old with multiple gunshot wounds, Miami police said. He was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Miami police later identified him as Qumourie Gay.
Officer Mike Vega, a spokesman for the Miami Police Department, said investigators believed several young males had been gathered in the alley when the shooting started and then ran off as shots rang out. “We’re still investigating to see what led to this, where did they come from, what were they doing,” Vega said in a televised interview as detectives continued canvassing the block. Police said the shooting area stretched along Northwest 50th Street and 13th Avenue and into the nearby intersection at Northwest 51st Street and 13th Avenue, a span that includes the park and surrounding homes.
Two other victims, both 18, were hit in the leg, police said. One ran to Charles Hadley Park and called for help, officers said. The other also called 911 to report he had been shot, police said. Both were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital and were listed in stable condition. Police did not release the names of the two injured teens, and investigators did not say whether they were targeted or caught in crossfire.
Police said a rifle was recovered at the location as detectives searched for weapons and shell casings and tried to map where shooters stood. Investigators said they were “looking at” Gay as a possible shooter, while also trying to identify at least one additional person who may have fired. Officers did not say how many shots were fired, but neighbors reported hearing a rapid series of gunshots and then seeing young people run away from the alley. A resident who spoke to reporters said he dropped to the floor inside his home when he heard the gunfire because a window faced the street.
Another neighbor told local media he was inside his house when the shots began and thought the sound was unusually heavy. “It was a lot of shots,” the man said, adding that it sounded like automatic gunfire. He said he walked outside, saw a man lying in the street, and called 911. Investigators have not confirmed what type of firearm was used in the shooting beyond the rifle recovered at the scene, and police have not said whether more than one gun was fired.
Detectives said they were reviewing surveillance and doorbell camera video from nearby homes and businesses to piece together who was in the alley before the shooting and how the gunfire unfolded. Police also said a bullet struck the senior center at Charles Hadley Park, but no one inside was injured. Officers continued to interview residents and search for witnesses who might have seen a confrontation, a vehicle leaving the area, or people running with weapons.
The shooting added to concerns among neighbors who said the area is usually active with families using the park, especially in the early evening. Residents described the moment as chaotic, with the sound of shots followed by people shouting and moving away from the alley. Police have not described a motive and have not announced any arrests. Vega said the investigation remained active as detectives worked to identify suspects and determine how the victims were connected to one another.
By early Tuesday, police said the two injured 18-year-olds were expected to recover, and detectives were still working to confirm who fired and why. Authorities said they were continuing to gather video and witness statements and asked anyone with information to contact Miami police. No court dates or charges had been announced as of Tuesday afternoon.
Author note: Last updated February 17, 2026.