A girl and her father — described as “innocent bystanders” — were shot in the parking lot of a Florida McDonald’s. A bullet became lodged in the daughter’s head, and doctors now say they cannot remove it yet.
The 11-year-old girl and her father — identified by NBC 6 South Florida as Dora Belen Rivera and Oscar Roman Miron — were struck by bullets while sitting in a vehicle outside a McDonald’s in Hallandale Beach on the afternoon of Saturday, June 27.
A GoFundMe created on the family’s behalf reveals new details about the tragic incident and the condition of the victims.
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“As reported by local authorities, Oscar and his family had just arrived at the restaurant while his wife went inside to pick up food. Oscar remained in the vehicle with their three children. Without warning, an altercation broke out between other individuals in the parking lot, and gunfire erupted,” Miron’s co-worker Reyna Mateo wrote on the GoFundMe fundraiser.
Rivera was shot in the head and her father was shot in the hip, per NBC 6.
A 2-year-old and 5-year-old child, whom the outlet identified as Rivera’s siblings, were also inside the vehicle at the time of the incident, but they were not wounded, police previously said. The GoFundMe added, “Their two other children, who were also inside the vehicle, were physically unharmed but witnessed the terrifying incident.”
As of Monday, Miron was treated and released from a hospital, where his daughter remained in stable condition. He is “continuing his recovery at home,” per the GoFundMe.
Rivera, meanwhile, remains at the hospital in stable condition. She has undergone surgery, per the fundraiser, but the bullet from the shooting remains in her head.
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“Doctors have advised the family that they are not removing the bullet at this time because doing so could cause even greater harm,” the fundraiser states. “She continues to receive specialized medical care and faces a long road to recovery.”
Ralph N-Kosi Blue III — who was arriving at work at the restaurant, per NBC 6 — was arrested in connection with the shooting, the Hallandale Beach Police Department previously confirmed.
The incident originated outside Hallandale Beach, police previously said.
In a statement previously shared with PEOPLE, Brad Ashlin, the owner and operator of the McDonald’s location, said, “We are devastated by the shooting that occurred outside our restaurant. Our thoughts are with the father and young daughter who were injured, as well as their family during this difficult time.”
Ashlin added, “The individual reported to be involved is no longer employed at our organization. We will continue to support the Hallandale Beach Police Department, including providing surveillance footage and any assistance needed for their investigation.”
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Police described the family as “innocent bystanders.” The GoFundMe further states, “Oscar and his family had no involvement whatsoever in the incident.”
Per NBC 6, Blue, 18, was charged with two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill. He is no longer employed at the McDonald’s, and he is being held at the Broward County Jail without bond, per NBC 6.
It is not immediately clear whether Blue has acquired legal representation