An innocent man was shot and killed by a stray bullet in Miami Gardens Monday. He was a devoted husband, loving father and Sunday school teacher, according to his family.
38-year-old Bered Pierre, whose family called him Ben, was sitting inside his work van at a convenience store when he innocently got caught in crossfire.
"This guy flat out loved his wife, more than anything in the world. He loved Christ too," said David Ferguson, victim's brother-in-law.
Pierre was killed while on the clock, trying to make a living.
Miami Gardens Police said Pierre was sitting in his work van outside a convenience store in the 4100 block of Northwest 167th Street, when he unexpectedly took a bullet, caught in the crossfire of a random and senseless shooting.
"We can't question God on what happened and why it happened, but I can tell you this. If you knew Ben, Ben was a man who really took ownership of God's grace and forgiveness and he would want to extend that same grace to the people who took his life," Ferguson said.
Detectives said a subject approached and started shooting at two other people who were in the parking lot near Pierre.
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"It has to stop. You have to look at life and value it because it's tragic," Ferguson said.
Pierre's family said his life was full of value. He was a church-going family man, who also coached Pee Wee Basketball in Miramar. His boss said he only worked there a short time, but his work ethic stood out.
"He just didn't let us down in any way. He was one of those people that you really, really miss and it really, really upsets me when you hear the circumstances of how we lost him," said Manny Benetiez with American Fasteners Corp.
The family is now grieving, challenged with the uncertainly of the future, especially for Pierre's wife and two young children.
"He was an innocent man who got caught in the crossfire and now we have his wife, two kids, they're going to be raised without their father," Ferguson said.
A GoFundMe page has been setup to help the family.
