Detectives say the 15-year-old was shot in the shoulder and ankle and is stable.
WEST KENDALL, FL — Two teenage boys were arrested after investigators said they opened fire from a moving car in a West Kendall drive-by that sent a 15-year-old boy to the hospital, authorities announced Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said the shooting happened Wednesday afternoon as two teens walked along a residential stretch near Southwest 152nd Avenue. The arrests came about a day later as detectives gathered witness accounts, reviewed video and tracked down the suspects. Officials have not described a motive, and they have not said whether the boys who were shot at were targeted.
Deputies identified the injured teen as Eydam Ramos, 15. They said he was walking north with a 16-year-old friend, Cristhian Gonzalez, when gunfire erupted from a passing car near Southwest 152nd Avenue and the Southwest 70s streets. Investigators said Ramos was hit multiple times, including in the right shoulder and left ankle, and was taken to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. Gonzalez was not hurt but helped his friend get to a safer spot and call 911, officials said.
Detective Samantha Choon, a spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office, described the case as “a heinous crime against children” as detectives worked to identify the people inside the car. Investigators said the shooting unfolded quickly, leaving limited information at first about the vehicle and the people who fired. A resident who said he heard rapid pops and then saw sirens and yellow tape later described the scene as frightening and close to home. Another neighbor told television reporters that police activity spread across several blocks as deputies searched for evidence and interviewed residents.
By Thursday evening, deputies said they had arrested 16-year-old Adrian Negron and 17-year-old Camilo Buritica. Investigators alleged Buritica was driving during the shooting and that Negron fired the gun from inside the vehicle. An arrest report described a front passenger extending an arm out of the window while holding a black handgun and firing several times, authorities said. Deputies said the car then sped away, leaving Ramos wounded on the street.
Officials said the shooting occurred around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18, in the area of Southwest 152nd Avenue and nearby cross streets in West Kendall, a section of southwest Miami-Dade lined with homes, townhouses and neighborhood roads. The sheriff’s office said deputies and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded after reports of gunfire and found the teen suffering from wounds to his upper body and lower extremities. Investigators said the two boys who were walking tried to escape the gunfire and moved several blocks away before calling for help.
Video evidence became part of the early timeline. A neighbor’s doorbell camera captured the sound of about eight shots, followed seconds later by a car moving north on Southwest 152nd Avenue. Authorities have not publicly confirmed that the car seen on the video is the same one used in the shooting, but investigators said they were working through leads, including footage from the neighborhood. At the scene, aerial video showed police vehicles and small personal items on the sidewalk, including shoes and a backpack, as deputies closed off sections of the roadway.
The arrests unfolded in the Kendall Square area, where deputies were seen taping off a townhouse Thursday. A resident in the neighborhood told reporters he saw undercover officers and described a heavy police presence as investigators looked for a teen connected to the shooting. Deputies later said Negron was taken into custody at a townhouse in that area. Authorities did not immediately describe where Buritica was arrested or whether any weapon had been recovered.
The sheriff’s office said the two teens face multiple felony charges, including attempted second-degree murder and aggravated assault with a firearm. Authorities also cited a charge of possession of a firearm by a minor. Investigators did not release details Thursday night about what may have led up to the gunfire, whether the teens knew one another, or whether the shooting was connected to any prior dispute. Officials said the motive remained unclear.
Even with arrests, several key questions remain unanswered. Deputies have not said how the suspects and victim may have crossed paths, whether the location was chosen at random, or whether investigators believe anyone else was involved. Authorities also have not said how many shots were fired in total beyond what was captured on the neighbor’s recording, or whether other homes, cars or property were struck. The sheriff’s office did not provide details on whether the suspects made statements to investigators.
Residents described a neighborhood shaken by violence that many said felt out of place. Arturo Narciandi, who lives nearby, said he stepped outside with his young child and saw police lights and crime scene tape, then went back inside because of the commotion. Another neighbor, who gave only her first name, Teresa, said the rapid gunfire was so fast that she immediately knew it was serious. In the hours after the shooting, deputies remained in the area, expanding the search as they worked to piece together what happened and who was in the car.
Authorities said Ramos remained in stable condition as of Thursday night. They did not provide an updated medical prognosis, but investigators and neighbors described the teen as badly shaken. Deputies said Gonzalez, who was walking with Ramos, was not taken to the hospital but was also rattled by what happened. Officials said the case was still active and that detectives were continuing to gather information and review evidence.
Negron was expected to appear in juvenile court on Friday, Feb. 20, according to officials. It was not immediately clear Thursday night whether Buritica would be handled in juvenile court or face adult proceedings, or when his first court appearance would take place. Prosecutors also had not publicly outlined how they plan to proceed, and the sheriff’s office did not announce any scheduled news conference.
For now, deputies say the investigation is moving forward even with the arrests, as they work to confirm the sequence of events, the roles of each suspect and the circumstances that led to the gunfire. Officials said the shooting remains under review, and they have not ruled out that the victims may have been targeted. The next major milestone is the suspects’ first court hearings, beginning Friday.
Author note: Last updated February 19, 2026.