A tragic incident in Miami has left a family heartbroken after a 10-year-old girl was killed by a celebratory gunshot fired into the air on New Year’s Day. Police are now searching for the person responsible for the shot that took the life of young Yanelis Munguia.
Yanelis and her family were celebrating the New Year near NW 27 Avenue and NW 21 Street in Miami when the unthinkable happened. Just minutes after midnight, Yanelis suddenly collapsed. Her family rushed to her side and discovered a gunshot wound to the back of her head. In a desperate attempt to save her, they placed her in a car and began searching for a hospital while dialing 911.
Hialeah Fire Rescue intercepted the family near Palm Avenue and West Third Street and rushed Yanelis to Jackson Ryder Trauma Center. Despite their efforts, doctors pronounced her dead.
Miami-Dade police shared the heartbreaking news, emphasizing the dangers of celebratory gunfire. They reminded the public that bullets fired into the air can have deadly consequences. “This devastating incident shows that what goes up must come down,” the police stated. “Bullets can take innocent lives.”
Yanelis had just celebrated her 10th birthday on December 26. Her family shared a video of her joyfully playing with sparklers alongside her younger brother, just days before the tragedy. Her grandfather, Ramon Valdizon, expressed his grief, saying, “I don’t want what happened to my granddaughter to happen to anyone else.”
Valdizon also shared how the family is struggling to cope. Yanelis’ mother, filled with guilt, blames herself for the tragedy. “I cannot stand to go in that house and not see her again,” he said.
Miami-Dade police are working to find out who fired the gunshot and where it came from. Detective Andre Martin expressed frustration over the continued use of firearms for celebrations despite repeated warnings. “We talk about this every New Year, and yet here we are. A 10-year-old girl has lost her life. Her parents are now planning a funeral instead of celebrating the New Year,” he said.
Tragically, Yanelis wasn’t the only victim of celebratory gunfire in Florida this New Year’s. In Kissimmee, Central Florida, 56-year-old Carmen Rosa Neira Ochoa was also struck by a stray bullet just after midnight. First responders rushed her to the hospital, but she didn’t survive. Her family described her as a hardworking mother and grandmother.
“She didn’t do anything to anyone,” her son-in-law Alex Marquez said. “I want people to think about the harm they can cause when celebrating with gunfire. They don’t know what family they might destroy.”
Both families are left mourning their loved ones, urging others to celebrate responsibly. Miami police have asked anyone with information about Yanelis’ case to contact Crime Stoppers Miami at 305-471-8477. Meanwhile, her family is raising funds to cover funeral expenses.