A Florida family is grieving after their 10-year-old daughter, Yaneliz Munguia, was tragically killed by a stray bullet while celebrating New Year’s Eve.
The devastating incident occurred just minutes after midnight on January 1, 2025, in Northwest Miami.
Yaneliz was with her family outside their apartment near NW 27th Ave. and NW 21st St. when the gunfire struck her.
Police say she was celebrating the holiday with fireworks when she was hit in the back of the head by “celebratory gunfire.”
Authorities warn that such incidents serve as a painful reminder that bullets fired into the air can come down with deadly force.
As Yaneliz collapsed, her parents quickly discovered the gunshot wound and rushed her to the hospital. They were met by Hialeah Fire Rescue personnel, who transported the young girl to a nearby medical facility. Tragically, she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Miami-Dade Police are still searching for the person responsible for firing the fatal shot. Meanwhile, Yaneliz’s family is left to mourn the loss of a joyful, loving child.
Her grandfather, Ramon Valdizol, expressed his heartbreak, saying, “Every time I came over, she was always happy to see me, and now I can’t bear to enter their home and not be able to see her again. It hurts my soul.”
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In the wake of the tragedy, the family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral and medical expenses. As of Thursday afternoon, more than $29,000 had been raised.
The GoFundMe page has touched many, with Estephanie Gomez urging supporters to contribute and share. She wrote, “Every contribution, no matter the amount, will make a huge difference to the family in need of all of us.”
Yaneliz, originally from Leon, Nicaragua, was a fourth-grade student at Melrose Elementary School. A teacher described her as a sweet, nurturing girl who was always kind to her younger brother.
“I can’t imagine what her family is going through,” the teacher shared on Facebook.