Police searching for shooter who killed 3-year-old during birthday party

FORT LAUDERDALE - Police are searching for a shooter after a 3-year-old boy was killed while at an outside birthday party Sunday afternoon in a Fort Lauderdale park.

Police said they received word of the shooting at Riverland Park, 950 SW 27th Avenue, around 4:30 p.m. When officers arrived, they found the boy at a pavilion decorated for a child's birthday party. He was rushed as a trauma alert to Broward Health Medical Center where he later died.

The child's name has not been released.

"We walk this community every day and never heard of this," said Joan Goodin.

Goodin and Lillie Charles walked by the scene during their daily walk through the park Monday morning.

"My heart goes out to the mother because I lost a child, so I know how it feels," Goodin said.

"My heart has broken to see this and to hear about a child. An innocent child that knows nothing," Charles said

Terri Jeane took her kids to the park on Monday but left when she found out what had happened the day before.

"I don't wanna put my kids at risk," Jeane said. "I don't know what's going on in this particular community now. But when I was living here nothing like this was happening before."

As police search for a shooter, Goode and Charles want closure for the 3-year-old's family.

"It's just sad that our people can't get together and reason together. Come let us meet together. Don't have to be killing, don't have to be violence," Charles said.

Police said they are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Anyone who may have witnessed it or have information that can help is urged to call Fort Lauderdale police.