Vigil held for teen killed by police

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (WSVN) -- A candlelight vigil was held for a teen after police were forced to fire after he allegedly tried to rob a local gas station.

Family and friends gathered Friday night in a candlelight vigil for 17-year-old Danny Cruz. Cruz lost his life just before midnight, Thursday, at the Chevron on South Dixie Highway and Southwest 312th Street.

His mother said she has not slept a wink after hearing her son was shot and killed, late Thursday night. "This hurts me so bad to lose my son," said Sara Garcia.

Desiree Parra works the morning shift at the gas station and spoke to the female clerk on duty when the incident transpired. "She said the guy came and asked for Tylenol, and she said, 'Oh, I don't have, but I give you one Motrin and you give me $1,'" said Parra. "Then he asks her, 'Give me the $1 back,' and he had the gun inside, and the police come in."

Homestead Police arrived on scene after responding to a panic alarm set off by the clerk, who said the suspect was acting suspiciously, according to Miami-Dade Police. An officer confronted the suspect and ordered him to show his hands. That is when shots were fired. Cruz died from his injuries on scene.

Many relatives have since stopped by the gas station to see where their loved died. Anthony Armijo, the victim's cousin, said, "It's just messed up how it happened."

Sonia Lopez, another relative, could not believe Cruz died the way he did. "When he was with family, there was never a sign of him being violent or anything," she said. "He was a really good kid, and it shouldn't have happened the way it happened."

Pedro Cargan, another cousin, shared fond memories of the deceased. "Everybody who'd chill with Danny would laugh. He had everyone giggling in a circle."

Police said the suspect had a gun, and the store clerk told a co-worker that he lifted his shirt to reveal a gun in his waistband. Cargan said he was outside on his bike when he heard the gunfire that took his cousin's life. He had no idea Cruz was the one inside, however. "I'm coming from this way," he said. "The officer goes that way and jumps out on that side, and all I heard was four gunshots go off."

Cruz's aunt is angered by the fatal shooting of her nephew. "What I'm looking at right now, right here, on the floor with a bunch of blood," said Yvonne Garcia. "We're going to find out because there are cameras inside, and I want some justice, and I want to find out what happened to my nephew."

The clerk was not injured. Detectives have questioned the clerk and recovered a gun at the scene.

Police detectives are now reviewing surveillance footage. Cruz' mother also wants to see the tape. "I want to see how this happened," she said. "There has to be some kind of jsut. We all want answers."

The officer who fired the shots has been placed on routine paid administrative leave as Miami-Dade Police take over the investigation.

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