Masked men open fire at party, killing two and wounding five

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published June 18, 2007

MIAMI - Two young men were killed and five other people were injured early Sunday when four men with guns and white bandannas on their faces opened fire at a graduation party, police said.

Authorities were searching for four gunmen, and the shootings were thought to be gang related, police said.

About 300 people were at a graduation and birthday party that began Saturday night and continued into the early morning at the Polish American Club in Miami, police said.

About 1 a.m., four gunmen entered the party and began arguing with people, police said. They then started shooting, hitting six people between the ages of 15 and 20, police said. A pregnant woman was injured.

Samuel Brown, a 16-year-old football player, who hoped to play in college, died hours after the shooting. Michael Bradshaw, 20, of North Miami-Dade County, died inside the rented hall, the Miami Herald reported.

The other injured guests were taken to hospitals. One was listed in critical condition Sunday. The rest were in stable condition, police said.

Kevin Garvey, a club employee, said he saw a young man lying in blood by the bathroom and two wounded teens on the dance floor - a boy shot in the abdomen and a girl shot in the back.

"It was complete pandemonium. Everyone was ducking and hitting the ground, " Garvey said. "There were chairs flying in the air, and people screaming. I have never seen anything like that in my life."

Miami police could not be reached on Sunday night.

[Last modified June 18, 2007, 00:37:14]