Stephanie Telusme, aged 27, tragically lost her life on April 14, 2019, in a drive-by shooting in Northwest Miami-Dade, Florida. Stephanie and her sister, Joanna Telusme, 24, were visiting friends in the area when they were fatally shot near Northwest 60th Street and 19th Avenue. The incident occurred just after 1 a.m. when a vehicle approached and opened fire on the group. Both sisters were pronounced dead at the scene, while two other individuals, Robert Allen and Jennifer Charles, sustained injuries and were transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital in stable condition.
The investigation into the shooting led to the arrest of Drakar Lamar Smith, a 20-year-old man, who was charged with multiple counts, including second-degree felony murder, second-degree murder, and attempted first-degree murder. According to the arrest warrant, a Miami-Dade Police officer heard the gunfire and saw a car fleeing the scene. The officer attempted to stop the vehicle, but the occupants abandoned it and fled on foot. Inside the car, police discovered two AK-47s and a semiautomatic pistol. Smith was found hiding under a tarp in a nearby backyard and had gunshot residue on his hands.
The case garnered significant attention due to the senseless nature of the violence and the fact that the sisters were innocent victims. Miami-Dade Police Director Juan Perez and State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle both emphasized the importance of bringing those responsible to justice and highlighted the collaborative efforts of the Miami-Dade Police Homicide Task Force and the State Attorney’s Northside Gun Initiative. Smith, who was on probation for check forgery and resisting an officer without violence at the time of the shooting, was held without bond.
The community and law enforcement officials called for an end to gun violence in the area, with local activists and family members of the victims urging anyone with information to come forward. The tragic deaths of Stephanie and Joanna Telusme underscored the urgent need for measures to address and prevent such random acts of violence in urban Miami.
