MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. - Police have confirmed a 10-year-old girl celebrating New Year's Day with her family in northwest Miami-Dade was killed by a stray bullet, according to News 6 partner Local 10 News.
Authorities said Yanelis Munuguia, who had recently celebrated her 10th birthday after Christmas, was outside with her family on Northwest 21st Terrace near 27th Avenue around 1:30 a.m., lighting legal fireworks, when her parents noticed her collapse.
Upon inspecting her, Miami-Dade police said they found a gunshot wound to her head.
According to detectives, Yanelis' parents quickly put her in their car and began driving, trying to find the nearest hospital. While on the way, they called 911 and ended up near Palm Avenue and West Third Street in Hialeah.
Hialeah Fire Rescue responded at that location and transported the girl to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center, where she later died, authorities confirmed.
"Preliminary investigation reveals that the victim was struck by a stray bullet fired into the air from an unknown location by an unknown subject," Miami-Dade police wrote in a news release.
"We say time and time again, every New Year's, that what goes up must come down. This is a prime example of the dangers of shooting a firearm into the air," said MDPD Detective Andre Martin.
Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
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