Man arrested for fatally shooting 15-year-old boy in the head in Florida City

MIAMI — Police say they have arrested the man responsible for fatally shooting 15-year-old boy in the head in Florida City Saturday morning.

Miami-Dade police announced in an updated press release Sunday morning that 18-year-old Jeron Smith has been charged with second-degree murder for the death of Damarion Bailey.

According to the arrest affidavit, Smith and Bailey were sitting in a yard at 434 NW 13th St. around 10:31 a.m. Saturday when Smith saw two unidentified men riding bicycles westbound on 13th Street, then took out a handgun and started shooting at them. “unprovoked.” The riders then dropped their bikes and began running away.

During the shooting, Bailey was shot in the head as Smith fired his gun before retreating toward his home, the affidavit states. Police in the Florida city responded minutes later when they received a call about the shooting and attempted to save Bailey's life at the scene. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead by the Miami-Dade Fire Department when they responded shortly after.

Smith was then transported to the MDPD Homicide Bureau for questioning, where he waived his Miranda rights and provided a detailed videotaped confession.

MDPD then executed a search warrant at Smith's neighbor's home, where a 9mm firearm was found hidden behind an air conditioning unit, the affidavit states. Bailey later confirmed to investigators that this was the gun he used in the shooting.

Smith was then formally arrested and transported to TGK, where he was charged accordingly.