A holiday outing quickly turned chaotic when a Miami mother allegedly shot her son and now faces serious charges. Authorities say a heated family dispute escalated in broad daylight on Christmas Day, leaving a man hospitalized and his own mother in police custody. And, the woman at the center of it all is Roseita Lavette Smith.
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Mother Charged After Christmas Day Shooting Outside Miami Restaurant
According to jail records reviewed by Law & Crime, the 50-year-old Miami woman has been charged with aggravated battery with a weapon, causing bodily harm, after allegedly shooting her son, whose age has not been publicly revealed, outside the popular Red Rooster restaurant in Miami’s Overtown neighborhood. Roseita Lavette Smith was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center just after midnight on Friday and is currently being held without bond.
Parking Lot Argument Ends In Gunfire, Son Hospitalized
Police say the incident began earlier that day while Smith and her son were inside the restaurant having brunch with family. An arrest report obtained by local station WPLG states that Smith became upset, accusing her son of being “disrespectful” toward her and other relatives. What started as a verbal disagreement reportedly continued as the two left the restaurant and got into Smith’s vehicle.
Authorities say the argument intensified in the parking lot around 3 p.m. And as the son exited the vehicle, Smith allegedly followed him and fired one gunshot, striking him in the thigh. Officers arrived to find the victim lying on the ground, bleeding from his left leg. First responders treated him at the scene and transported him to a nearby hospital. Furthermore, the doctors listed him in stable condition.
Smith Claims Self-Defense After Fleeing The Scene, Arrested
Smith had already fled the scene by the time police arrived. However, Miami officers later located and arrested her the same day. During questioning, Smith reportedly told investigators she acted in self-defense. Smith claimed that her son threatened to assault her after refusing to leave her car. She also referenced past behavior from her son as part of her explanation.
Despite her claims, police say the victim identified Smith as the person who shot him, leading to her arrest. The investigation remains ongoing as the case moves through the legal system.
