Grieving dad speaks out at press conference on mass shooting that left 21 injured, 2 dead

Michelle Marchante, David Goodhue
·2 min read

Clayton Dillard III was one of two people killed early Sunday morning outside of a Northwest Miami-Dade banquet hall during a mass shooting that sent 21 others to the hospital.

His grieving father, whose name is also Clayton Dillard, on Monday spoke out during a news conference about the shooting — running in front of the cameras and screaming a message to the shooters.

“You all killed my kid. You must burn!” yelled Dillard.

Police at the press conference, which was held in front of Miami-Dade police headquarters in Doral, quickly surrounded Dillard and pulled him inside the building.

“That is the pain that affects our community right there before you,” Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez III said as police escorted Dillard out. “That’s why together, all of us, we must work harder to bring justice to these families who are crying as you hear right now. Know that the Miami-Dade Police Department will not stop. We will bring justice. Our community is united.”

Mourning father, Clayton Dillard, is ushered to the lobby of Miami-Dade Police headquarters after emotionally interrupting a Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava hosted press conference about the shooting this weekend in Northwest Miami-Dade. Monday, May 31, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava hosted a press conference on the mass shootings over the Memorial Day weekend at the Fred Taylor Miami-Dade Police Headquarters in Doral, Florida.

Dillard continued to shout as he was pulled away.

“You’re gonna burn, you hear me,” Dillard said. “You killed a good kid. For no reason. You’re gonna burn.”

Dillard’s son, and another man who was killed, Desmond Owens, were both 26 years old, according to multiple law enforcement sources. The other 21 victims who were wounded are between 17 and 32 years of age. They were all taken to different hospitals. As of Monday morning, three of them were still in critical condition. Three others — a 17-year-old, a 19-year-old and a 32-year-old — were discharged.

Miami-Dade police have not disclosed the names of the other victims.

Clayton Dillard arrives to El Mula Banquet Hall on Sunday, May 30, 2021. His son Clayton Dillard III was killed in a mass shooting that left one other person dead and 21 injured.
Clayton Dillard arrives to El Mula Banquet Hall on Sunday, May 30, 2021. His son Clayton Dillard III was killed in a mass shooting that left one other person dead and 21 injured.

Dillard told news media outlets Sunday that his son was one of the people killed. His son’s body was laid out near the banquet hall in 90 degree weather for nearly 18 hours, according to Local 10.

The shooting happened shortly after midnight outside of El Mula Banquet Hall near the Country Club of Miami. The banquet hall was hosting a Memorial Day weekend album release party featuring performances from local rappers.

Investigators on Monday said that the targeted attack was connected to an ongoing rivalry between two groups. Detectives believe the target or targets were standing in front of the banquet hall at the time of the shooting.

Anyone with information on the shooting or shooters is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.

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