On May 9, 2023, a tragic incident occurred in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, resulting in the deaths of 21-year-old Terri McKenzie and her 23-year-old boyfriend, Vernaldo Donner. The shooting took place around 2:30 a.m. as the couple was driving a white 2017 Mercedes Benz GLC 300 and turning off Sunrise Boulevard onto the Interstate 95 northbound ramp. A gunman opened fire on the vehicle, riddling it with bullets.
Both victims were found suffering from gunshot wounds and were transported to Broward Health Medical Center, where they later succumbed to their injuries. The scene of the crime revealed extensive damage to the vehicle, with around 18 shell casings found on the roadway by Florida Highway Patrol officials.
Terri McKenzie was described by her mother, Barbara McKenzie, as a young woman with aspirations to better her life. She was a high school graduate who had recently accepted a job as a certified nursing assistant and had dreams of becoming a registered nurse. The family and community were deeply affected by her death, with her mother and aunt expressing their shock and grief.
Initially, the police did not release any information on possible suspects, and the case remained unsolved for several months. However, in November 2024, significant developments emerged. Eight suspected gang members were arrested in connection with multiple shootings and murders, including the deaths of Terri McKenzie and Vernaldo Donner. Kevaris Johnson, 23, was identified as the accused trigger man in the shooting that killed the couple. It was revealed that neither McKenzie nor Donner was the intended target of the shooting.
The arrests were part of a broader investigation that linked the gang to several other homicides, including the deaths of Dorothy Smart, Terrance Farrington Jr., and Johnnie Henderson. The family of Terri McKenzie expressed a sense of closure and gratitude for the arrests, though they acknowledged the ongoing trauma from the loss.
All eight suspects were scheduled for arraignment, with five appearing before the judge and entering not-guilty pleas. The authorities reported that the gang was suspected of involvement in more than a dozen attempted murders in addition to the homicides they were charged with.
