A grieving family is asking for justice after their loved one was killed in a shootout.
A grieving family is seeking justice for their loved one after he was killed during a shootout in Miami Gardens.
"I never thought that he'd be taken away by gun violence," said the mother of Justin Jamal Jackson, Laytena. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole thing. My son is a good kid."
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Police said Jamal Jackson, 31, was shot after leaving a local club early Friday morning. When Jackson and his friends exited the parking lot, they were followed by an unidentified vehicle.
When Jackson's car crossed NW 177th Street on NW 2nd Avenue, occupants in the suspect's vehicle began shooting. Shots were exchanged between both vehicles, with a bullet fatally striking Jackson.
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Jackson's friend, who was in the driver's seat, drove north and pulled over at NW 215th Street and NW 2nd Avenue. Emergency personnel were immediately called, according to a news release.
Laytena Jackson said her son rarely went out because he suffered from lupus.
"I think that night, he must just felt good enough to go out. He wanted to be normal," she said, adding that her son had been in and out of the hospital.
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She also said she's grateful to the driver who pulled over to get her son help.
"The driver went into a laundromat to get help, and he stayed with Justin," she said. "I don't even know who he is, but I want to say thank you."
Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for up to $5,000 to anyone with information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information is asked to call 305-471-TIPS.
