An 11-year-old girl remains hospitalized after being struck in the head by a bullet during a shooting outside a McDonald’s restaurant in Hallandale Beach, where investigators say she and her family were unintended victims.
The incident occurred on June 27 while the child, identified as Dora Belen Rivera, was sitting inside a sport utility vehicle with her father and two younger siblings as their mother went inside the restaurant to collect food.
Father Also Injured During Gunfire
Authorities said Rivera’s father, Oscar Roman Miron, suffered a gunshot wound to the hip during the incident.
The couple’s other children, ages two and five, were inside the vehicle at the time but escaped physical injury.
Investigators believe the family was not the intended target of the shooting.
Police Say Employee Fired During Parking Lot Altercation
According to investigators, 18-year-old Ralph N-Kosi Blue III, an employee at the McDonald’s restaurant, discharged a firearm while on his way to begin his work shift.
Authorities allege Blue fired at another individual who was running toward him following an altercation in the parking lot. The shots instead struck the family’s vehicle, injuring Rivera and her father.
Court documents cited by local media indicate surveillance footage captured another individual taking cover near the family’s SUV before Blue allegedly raised his weapon and fired.
Previous Incident Reportedly Involved Suspect
An arrest report cited by local news outlets states that two days before the shooting, several individuals came to the restaurant reportedly looking for Blue, who allegedly hid in the rear of the business.
Investigators are continuing to examine whether the earlier confrontation was connected to the shooting.
Girl Undergoes Surgery as Recovery Continues
Rivera underwent emergency surgery following the shooting and continues to receive treatment in hospital.
According to a fundraising campaign established for the family, doctors elected not to remove the bullet because of medical concerns. Organizers said the child faces an extended recovery while also coping with the emotional impact of the incident.
Her father has since been discharged from hospital.
The fundraising campaign also noted that the family’s two younger children experienced significant emotional trauma after witnessing the shooting.
Criminal Charges Filed Against Suspect
Blue has been charged with two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill.
Authorities have not indicated that the victims were specifically targeted.
McDonald’s Franchise Confirms Employee’s Dismissal
The owner of the Hallandale Beach McDonald’s confirmed that Blue is no longer employed by the restaurant.
In a statement, franchise owner Brad Ashlin expressed sympathy for the injured family, describing the shooting as devastating and extending thoughts to Rivera, her father and their relatives as they continue their recovery.
Meanwhile, Rivera’s family remains focused on supporting her rehabilitation and helping her younger siblings recover from the traumatic experience.
