Police find vehicle and search for gunman who killed 3-year-old during birthday party in Fort Lauderdale park

FORT LAUDERDALE – Police said they have recovered a vehicle involved in the fatal drive-by shooting of a 3-year-old boy who was killed at a birthday party at a Fort Lauderdale park on Sunday afternoon.

Police said they learned of the shooting at Riverland Park, 950 SW 27th Avenue, around 4:30 p.m. When officers arrived, they found the boy in a gazebo decorated for a child’s birthday party. He was taken to Broward Health Medical Center as a trauma alert, where he later died.

The child was later identified as Rylo Yancy.

Police confirmed Monday afternoon that Yancy was the victim of a drive-by shooting.

Authorities said the suspects fled the area immediately after the shooting, but investigators said they identified, located and seized one of the vehicles involved.

“We walk through this community every day and have never heard of it,” said Joan Goodin.

Goodin and Lillie Charles passed the scene on their daily walk through the park on Monday morning.

“My deepest sympathy goes out to the mother because I lost a child and I know how it feels,” Goodin said.

“It breaks my heart to see this and to hear this from a child. An innocent child who knows nothing,” said Charles

Terri Jeane went to the park with her children on Monday, but left when she found out what had happened the day before.

“I don’t want to put my children at risk,” Jeane said. “I don’t know what’s going on in this community right now. But when I lived here, nothing like this ever happened.”

While police search for a shooter, Goode and Charles want the three-year-old’s family to have closure.

“It’s just sad that our people can’t come together and discuss things sensibly. Come on, let’s come together. There doesn’t have to be any killing, there doesn’t have to be any violence,” Charles said.

Authorities said no arrests have been made. They urge anyone who witnessed the shooting or has information to call Fort Lauderdale police.