Suspect charged 2 years after 6-year-old daughter fatally shot in northwest Miami-Dade

MIAMI – A man was formally charged Wednesday in connection with a Jan. 16, 2021, shooting in northwest Miami-Dade that left a 6-year-old girl dead, authorities announced Thursday.

Miami police confirmed that Warneric Anthony Buckner, 22, has been charged with second-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder.

Buckner is currently in federal custody on unrelated charges.

According to authorities, the victim, Chassidy Saunders, was driven by a family friend to a toddler’s outdoor birthday party in Miami, near Northwest 54th Street and Sixth Place before the shooting.

But just as the party was wrapping up around 7 p.m., a barrage of bullets rang out.

Two adults were shot, and Chassidy died after being shot in the head. A black vehicle sped away from the scene, police said.

“Chassidy’s life was taken from her in a hail of bullets intended for someone else. From the moment the shots which tragically ended Chassidy’s life were fired, the Miami Police Department has worked tirelessly to identify those responsible for her death and bring them to justice,” Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales said in a statement Thursday. “Because the charging document in this case is under seal, we cannot provide further comment regarding the specifics of this investigation and the charges filed against Mr. Buckner. I do, however, want to express the Miami Police Department’s continued support for Chassidy’s family. The Miami Police Department is fully committed to the prevention of gun violence and to holding those who carry out these crimes, especially those who victimize our community’s children, accountable for their actions.”

The police chief also praised those who have worked tirelessly on the case to bring justice to Chassidy and her family.

“I also wish to acknowledge the tireless work of the detectives, crime scene investigators, officers, and professional staff of the Miami Police Department who made the filing of these charges possible, as well as the Office of Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle; the Office of Broward State Attorney Harold F. Pryor; the Miami-Dade Police Department, under the leadership of Director Alfredo (Freddy) Ramirez, III; and the Miami Field Office for Homeland Security Investigations, under the leadership of Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury,” Morales said.

The case is being prosecuted by the Broward State Attorney’s Office due to a potential conflict of interest with the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.