A 10-year-old girl in Florida tragically lost her life after being struck by a stray bullet while celebrating New Year’s Eve with her family, according to police. The incident occurred at 12:04 a.m. on January 1 in Northwest Miami, as Yaneliz Munguia and her family were gathered outside near NW 27th Ave. and NW 21st St.
The Miami-Dade Police Department described the incident as a heartbreaking reminder that “what goes up must come down,” emphasizing the danger of celebratory gunfire. “Bullets fired into the air can take innocent lives,” the department said in a statement.
Yaneliz, who had been enjoying fireworks with her family, was struck in the head by the bullet. Her parents quickly realized something was wrong when she fell to the ground, discovering a gunshot wound at the back of her head. In a panic, they rushed her to the hospital while calling for help.
On the way to the hospital, Hialeah Fire Rescue met the family and transported Yaneliz to a local medical facility. Sadly, she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival, CBS News Miami reports.
While authorities continue to search for the person responsible for firing the fatal shot, Yaneliz’s family is left mourning her loss. Her grandfather, Ramon Valdizol, shared his grief, saying, “Every time I came over, she was always happy to see me and now I can’t bear to enter their home and not be able to see her again. It hurts my soul.”
In response to the tragedy, Yaneliz’s loved ones launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for her funeral and medical expenses. The campaign’s organizer, Estephanie Gomez, posted on Facebook, “Every contribution, no matter the amount, will make a huge difference to the family in need of all of us. Please donate and share this post. Together we can unite and show that even in the darkest moments, solidarity and love prevail.” By Thursday afternoon, the campaign had raised over $29,000.
Yaneliz, originally from Leon, Nicaragua, was described as “full of dreams and joy” by Gomez. She was a fourth-grade student at Melrose Elementary School, where her teacher, Murenne Philistin, remembered her as “such a sweet, quiet little girl who was so nurturing to her little Kindergarten brother.” The entire community is mourning her untimely death, with family and friends grappling with the immense loss.