Family identifies murdered teenager, detectives arrest 18-year-old suspect in Florida City

FLORIDA CITY, Florida. – Grieving relatives struggled Sunday to come to terms with the death of a 15-year-old boy who was killed in a shooting just about a block from his grandmother's home in Florida City.

They identified the victim as Damarion Bailey. According to Florida City police, he was shot in the head on Saturday. Miami-Dade Fire Department personnel pronounced him dead near Northwest 13th Street and Fifth Avenue.

Kika Bailey described her nephew Damarion, a student at Homestead Middle School, as a “good boy” who never hurt anyone.

“She needs justice for her son,” said the grieving aunt, standing next to Damarion’s mother.

Miami-Dade detectives investigating the murder arrested an 18-year-old suspect on Saturday on suspicion of shooting two teenagers who rode past him on a bicycle, jumped off and ran for their lives.

Miami-Dade County Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation records show that correctional officers arrested convicted felon Jeron Smith just minutes before midnight on Saturday.

Records show Smith was in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center facing charges of first-degree murder with a weapon while out on bail for a weapons offense.

According to Florida City police, they were alerted to the shooting by Shot Spotter technology. According to the police report, there were surveillance cameras.

Investigators asked anyone with information about this or other cases to call Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.

Local 10 News Assignment Desk Editor Mercedes Cevallos contributed to this report.

Map of the crime scene area