Shots fired at party kill 18-year-old

A celebration for a recent Miami Springs High graduate erupted into chaos early Sunday as an 18-year-old man was killed -- and five others wounded -- when a gunman opened fire.
According to police, the graduation party in the Brownsville neighborhood of Miami was winding down when an unidentified man unloaded an assault weapon on a group of unsuspecting partygoers.

''The party was about to come to an end and all of a sudden we started to hear shooting. Everybody started running,'' said a woman named Lori, at whose house the party was held. She declined to give her last name or the name of her daughter, who had recently graduated from high school.

''It was every man for himself,'' said Okema Mason, a relative who attended the event.

Killed in the melee: Frank Crump Jr., who had an extensive criminal record, including numerous arrests for selling cocaine, armed robbery and battery. He was the father of a toddler.

Another man who also was shot lay next to Crump in a pool of blood, witnesses said. A third man, apparently uninjured, lay over Crump's body crying out, ''They shot my dawg, they killed my dawg,'' Mason said.

In all, six people were shot. All were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center. Crump was pronounced dead at the hospital.

A second man, who was not identified by police, remained in critical condition at Jackson late Sunday, a hospital spokesperson said.

According to Miami-Dade police, officers were called out early Sunday to the corner of Northwest 32nd Avenue and 48th Terrace, where they were approached by someone who had been shot.

Moments later, the officers heard gunshots coming from less than a block away -- in the direction of the celebration.

Lori, the mother of the graduate, said neither she nor her daughter knew Crump, or the other critically injured man. About 50 to 60 guests were invited to the party, though more than 100 showed up.

''But we expected that,'' she said. ``They just ride through. Some stop.''

A family friend was shot in the buttocks as he ran from the gunfire, which broke out shortly before 1:30 a.m., Lori said.

The conditions of the other victims were not available.

Antoionette Joyner said she had returned from the party and laid her head on her pillow as the gunfire rang out.

''It sounded like it was right under our window,'' she said.

Crump Jr. and the other young man had been shot in her front yard. Sunday afternoon, the bloodstains were still visible on the sidewalk.

There were bullet holes in side yard fence, as well.

Crump's father, Frank Crump Sr., said his son had been lying in bed with his girlfriend and his 1-year-old daughter Zanarria, when a friend stopped by to tell him about the party.

''He left and he never made it back,'' Crump Sr. said.

The father of seven has been through this before, though, he said.

Last year, son Jerrell ''Rashuan'' Mack, was killed in a drive-by shooting, as he walked out the front door of the family house, near Northwest 54th Street and 30th Avenue.

Frankeetha Crump, one of his sisters, said the gunman was apparently targeting another man who was running down the street toward the home just as Mack walked outside.

The family is now waiting for that case to go to trial, Frankeetha said.

Sunday afternoon, dozens of relatives and other well-wishers gathered at the home that has seen so much tragedy.

''I'm just sad knowing my brothers have been taken away from me,'' Frankeetha Crump said.

A fifth brother was also outside the family home, but was not up to speaking to a reporter, relatives said. Nor was Crump Jr.'s mother, who was also among those gathered.

Crump Jr., who worked in construction, had been arrested at least 12 times, public records show.

But he was beginning to turn over a new leaf -- spending time with his mother, doting on his young daughter, ''Na Na,'' and starting to go to church, his sister said.

''He just made amends to his savior and was ready to give his life to Christ,'' she said.