Girl killed trying to flee neighborhood under fire

[DoYouEverWonder]

May 5, 2005

OPA-LOCKA - A 5-year-old girl died early Wednesday after she was struck by a bullet as she rode in a car with her mother, police said.

Melanise "Neenee" Malone died at a hospital after the 1 a.m. shooting in Opa-locka, 10 miles northwest of Miami, police said.

Her mother, Nicquila Godbee, had decided they should escape two days of shooting in their neighborhood, the Miami Herald reported on its Web site. The mother and children ventured out while Opa-locka police were present and the shooting had temporarily stopped, the newspaper said.

A block from the family's apartment, with a police car nearby, the shooting started again and Neenee was hit in the head.

Detectives were trying to find the shooter.

Opa-locka police had responded several times to reports of shooting in the neighborhood.

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/05/05/State/Girl_killed_trying_to.shtml


This little girl got killed trying to escape two days of shooting in her neighborhood? This isn't Iraq folks, this is happening in the USA and it's not even on the news. WTF is going on here?

[sasquatch]

1. The "Kill Bill" law is happening

[xultar]

2. Was it a black neighborhood? That would give you your answer. n/t

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. Most of Opalocka is a ghetto

I use to do home visits back in the 80's and even then there are parts of Opalocka that we couldn't go into. I would go to Liberty City and Overtown before I would go to Opalocka, especially the area that the Yahwehs had taken over. Bad, very bad.

[noamnety]

3. not newsworthy

When one of my friends moved out to the suburbs, they had a hard time getting used to sleeping on a real bed instead of a mattress on the floor. The elevated bed didn't feel safe, because it was the same level as the windows. For years she'd been below the windows so stray bullets wouldn't be an issue while she was sleeping.

Two Americas - shootings aren't news. Missing (white) brides are.

[Rose Siding]

4. That's incredible. Are people in FL hearing about it?

:(

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. No, of course not

the only reason why even this little blurb got buried in the St. Pete Times is because a little girl got killed.

[Malikshah]

8. It was on the local news last night, thank you very much

And they gave statistics, interviews etc. In total, folks don't want to live there, and cops don't want to work there.

Has nothing to do w/ the shoot to kill law of 05. Rather, it's like DC in the 80s...

Needless to say, south florida is a frikkin mess

SouthFloridian here.

[Bandit]

10. How can you say for a fact that it has nothing to do with shoot

to kill law? I am sure every crook in Florida is emboldened by this law. All they have to say is they feared for their life and they can shoot whoever they please.There will be a great increase in gun related fatalities I would bet. I just hope some of it carries over to the politicians who voted for this absurdity.

[Malikshah]

14. Simple-- Opa Locka has been the OK corral

for years BEFORE the shoot to kill law.

I say that so folks won't try and blame the shoot to kill law for this tragedy. Those who support the asinine law will point out what I just pointed out and thus folks will be discredited.

This area has been dangerous for a long time-- and nothing is being done about it. THAT is what needs to be yelled about.

Now-- if you want to blame the asinine law-- wait for a shoot out at the Sawgrass Mills Mall (second largest draw to south florida after Disney world) or downtown Delray Beach, etc.

In otherwords-- pointing out shootouts in dangerous places won't prove the case.

Shootouts in other places-- where there are rich people who feel an entitlement-- that's another thing.

BTW-- You might notice I'm not a supporter of this law in the slightest. It's only a matter of time until the tragedies increase exponentially.

[tkmorris]

12. Nope

Opa-Locka is pretty close to me, close enough for events there to be on my local news. Except they aren't. We have grown accustomed to things happening that aren't widely reported upon because, well, it would seem no one cares. Of course, perhaps a few more would care if they actually heard about it but they don't so it's moot anyway.

Florida isn't alone in this regard though. I grew up in Prince Georges County Maryland, just outside the SE Washington DC line, and NOTHING that happened there made the local news. As I recall there are areas in and near LA that are like that as well. New York, Chicago, anywhere there is a large and very poor neighborhood. It's as if the country has just decided to pretend these places don't exist for fear they might have to actually deal with the problems they represent.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

16. I'm a Prince Georges County resident...

I don't live in a high-crime area; but most of the crime that occurs within the city limits of my town does not get publicized. When an area becomes known for crime, the property values diminish.

[AndyTiedye]

6. When I Saw The Headline I Thought it Happened in Iraq, Not Florida!

[nonconformist]

13. That was my thought too! nt

[Scurrilous]

9. The Triangle...

..has been a drug hole since the 70's. The Opa Locka Police HQ is located right down the street from the entrance (the neighborhood is barricaded with only one way in and out) and they still can't put an end to the dealing and violence.

[Rex]

11. Time to call in the National Guard...

oh wait. No. Well we can call up some reservists and, no. Does the FBI work in Florida? DEA? Let's call the Drug Czar! Lord Chimpus Cocainusnosus!

[lonestarnot]

15. Same as the prison torture deal... happens right here in the US of Amerika