Timothy Starks, known by his stage name Baby Cino, was a 20-year-old aspiring rapper from Hialeah, Florida. On March 16, 2022, Starks was tragically shot and killed shortly after being released from the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade County. Starks had been arrested for carrying a concealed firearm without a valid license and was released on bail. Moments after his release, he was picked up by his friend, Dante Collins Banks.
As they drove on the Palmetto Expressway in a red Nissan Altima, their vehicle was ambushed by a gunman in a dark-colored vehicle. The car was riddled with over 40 bullets, and Starks was fatally shot in the head. Banks, who was also injured in the attack, survived and was taken to a local trauma center for treatment.
The investigation into Starks' murder revealed that it was likely a retaliatory act linked to gang violence in the Miami area. Authorities believe that Starks' death was connected to a series of violent incidents involving rival street gangs. Starks was allegedly affiliated with a gang in the Little Haiti area called "Boss Life." His murder is thought to be part of an ongoing feud between this gang and others in the region. The Miami-Dade Police Department has been investigating the case, looking into various motives and gathering evidence from the crime scene.
In the months following Starks' death, several arrests were made in connection to related violent incidents. Three brothers, Kemard, Ahmad, and Ameko Jacques, were implicated in a quadruple shooting in northwest Miami-Dade. Kemard and Ahmad Jacques faced first-degree murder charges for their involvement in the killing of Troyvon Smith, which occurred in February 2022. Investigators discovered that Starks had rented and cleaned the cars used in the quadruple shooting, further linking him to the violent activities of the Jacques brothers. The police believe that Starks' murder was a retaliatory act for his involvement in these incidents.
The case has highlighted the pervasive issue of gang violence in South Florida, with numerous fatal shootings occurring on the region's highways. The investigation into Starks' murder is ongoing, with authorities continuing to gather evidence and pursue leads. The tragic death of Baby Cino has brought attention to the dangers faced by young individuals involved in gang activities and the devastating impact of gun violence on communities.
