Doctors have decided not to remove the bullet from 11-year-old Dora Belen Rivera’s head because of the risk of more harm.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. — An 11-year-old girl remains hospitalized after she and her father were struck by gunfire while waiting in an SUV outside a McDonald’s in Hallandale Beach, police and family supporters said.
Dora Belen Rivera was shot in the head June 27 during a parking lot dispute that police said did not involve her family. Her father, Oscar Roman Miron, was shot in the hip. Two younger children, ages 2 and 5, were also inside the vehicle but were not physically injured. Police have described the family as innocent bystanders.
The shooting happened at about 1:35 p.m. outside the restaurant as the family waited for food. Investigators said an altercation broke out nearby before shots were fired. Rivera and Miron were taken to a hospital after bullets struck their vehicle. “Oscar and his family had no involvement whatsoever in the incident,” a family fundraiser said. Miron has since been released from the hospital and is recovering at home, while Rivera continues to receive specialized medical care.
Doctors performed surgery on Rivera but decided not to remove the bullet from her head at this time. Family supporters said doctors told relatives that removing it could cause greater damage. Rivera was listed in stable condition, but her recovery is expected to be long. The family said the shooting has left them facing medical bills, emotional trauma and a sudden change in daily life after what began as a routine stop for food.
Hallandale Beach police arrested Ralph N-Kosi Blue III, 18, after the shooting. Investigators said Blue was connected to the confrontation in the parking lot and fired during the dispute. Authorities said he was arriving for work at the McDonald’s when the shooting happened. Blue was 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.
Police said the intended target was not Rivera’s family. Surveillance footage and witness accounts are part of the investigation, authorities said. The family’s SUV was struck as the confrontation unfolded nearby. The two younger children inside the vehicle escaped physical injury, but family supporters said they witnessed the shooting and its aftermath. Officials have not said whether more charges could be filed as the investigation continues.
The McDonald’s franchise owner, Brad Ashlin, said the company was devastated by the shooting outside the restaurant. Ashlin said the person reported to be involved was no longer employed by the organization. He also said the restaurant would continue helping Hallandale Beach police, including by providing surveillance video and other assistance needed for the investigation.
Blue was being held without bond at the Broward County Jail after his arrest. Court proceedings are expected to determine how the charges move forward. Police have not released all details about what led to the parking lot dispute, and the case remains under investigation.
Rivera remained under medical care as of July 6, while her father continued recovering at home. The next major step in the case is expected in court as prosecutors review the charges against Blue.