‘Warm smile, kind heart': Family, friends mourn woman killed in Wynwood shooting
Evelyn Valdes rang in her 28th birthday in classic Miami fashion.
Though the occasion took place days earlier, she took to Wynwood's club-lined streets Saturday to celebrate with friends under the blacklights of hotspots like 1-800-Lucky and Mayami Wynwood.
Hours later, as last-call patrons trickled out onto the street, she was caught in a deadly crossfire between police officers and an armed man, cutting her life short.
At around 3 a.m., cops in the area 'confronted' a man with a gun along Northwest First Court and 23rd Street before 'shots were fired,' Miami Police spokesperson Officer Mike Vega told the Miami Herald in an email. The gunfire hit both Valdes and the armed man, who were transported to Jackson Memorial's Ryder Trauma Center and pronounced dead, he confirmed.
Whether Valdes was killed by police gunfire or the armed man is still unclear as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the lead agency for police-involved shootings, continues to investigate.
'Evelyn lived every moment to the fullest, capturing life's beauty with unyielding passion,' reads a statement released by the attorney of Kristy Garcia, Valdes' mother, on Tuesday. 'Her absence leaves a void that words cannot describe.'
The 28-year-old was identified by Garcia before authorities through a GoFundMe page that she organized. In a note posted with the fundraiser for her funeral, the mom described her as 'not the intended target, just an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire' and said she was remembered for her 'warm smile, kind heart, and the way she could bring light into any room.'
According to the Valdes family, Evelyn loved the ocean, had a sharp sense of humor and had recently come to the Christian faith. To her family — who knew her as 'Titi Evelyn' or 'Nana' — she spearheaded many academic firsts.
Valdes grew up a Homestead local in the halls of the Medical Academy for Science and Technology, becoming the first high school graduate in her household in 2015. Her friend Michelle Trujillo, who attended MAST with the 28-year-old, shared on the social media platform that their after school routine consisted of Valdes 'walking past my house and stopping by to say hi on her way home.'
She went on to complete a bachelor's and master's degree in social work at Barry University, graduating in 2023 after 'trials and tribulations, sleepless nights, lots of studying, and a couple of humbling hick-ups,' as one of her Facebook posts reads. Her account shows her to be an avid concertgoer who enjoyed traveling to places like South Carolina, Louisiana and the Bahamas.
After finishing her studies, Valdes dedicated her talents to advocating for child victims of abuse and neglect at a local nonprofit, her family shared.
To honor her, they say, answers are needed.
'We demand answers about the night that stole her from us and we also demand accountability from those involved,' reads the Valdes' statement. 'With limited information available, we plead for the community—near and far—to come forward with any details, including witness accounts, photos, videos, or social media posts, that could clarify the events leading to this tragedy.'
Loved ones of the second victim, the armed man, are making similar requests.
Though authorities haven't confirmed, family members are identifying him as 30-year-old Norman Lindo Jr.
Saddened friends of his, like Tazzy Redd, are calling Saturday's shooting into question.
Saying Lindo was the little brother of her kids' godmother, she took to Facebook asking community members to send in any video footage of the incident, saying 'We just really need to know what happened because we don't know.'
Answers from authorities could come once the investigation is complete since 'FDLE as a routine does not comment or provide additional information,' on active investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement told the Miami Herald in an email.
'Our family is overwhelmed with heartbreak, grief, anger, and countless unanswered questions,' read the Valdes' statement. 'The details surrounding that fateful night remain sparse, leaving us desperate for truth and accountability to honor Evelyn's memory.'
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