Man protecting his child fatally shot in Florida restaurant

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A gunman fatally shot a tourist who was having dinner with his family at a Miami Beach restaurant while the man was protecting his 1-year-old son, police and a family member said.

Tamarius Blair Davis, 22, of Norcross, Ga., told investigators he shot 21-year-old Dustin Wakefield on Tuesday night because “he was terrified of mushrooms, which made him feel empowered,” according to his arrest report.

Davis allegedly told police he approached the patio of La Cerveceria restaurant just before 6:30 p.m. and randomly decided to shoot Wakefield, who was on vacation from Castle Rock, Colorado. In a short video taken immediately after the shooting and obtained by WSVN-TV, the gunman can be seen dancing while people are heard screaming. The gunman then went up a few steps, gun in hand.

Mike Wakefield, the victim’s uncle, told the Miami Herald that Dustin Wakefield died protecting his youngest son.

“This guy came in with a gun waving, saying it’s time to die. He pointed the gun at his son and Dustin said, “It’s just a boy,” said Mike Wakefield, who was not in South Beach but heard the account from his family. “Dustin stood between the gunman and the child and shot him. He shot him several times on the ground.”

He said of his nephew, who worked in construction: “He was the nicest kid. He loved his family. He loved being a father.”

Davis ran from the restaurant, police said, and was captured in a nearby alley. Cell phone video obtained by the Herald shows Davis lying on his back and smiling as three officers approach him with their guns drawn shouting commands, warning him that if he touches his weapon he will be shot.

Davis then rolled onto his side in a fetal position, before rolling onto his back again as officers approached. Davis screamed “Dez, dau, dau” as the officers threw him on his stomach and handcuffed him. The video shows a black gun being about 10 feet (three meters) away.

Tommy Davis, the suspect’s father, told The Associated Press that his son had traveled to Miami Beach with some friends. He said his son had never been in trouble or had mental health issues. No arrest record could be found for young Davis.

“That’s an unlikely thing,” the senior Davis said. “We are trying to find out what happened. You can imagine we were shocked.”

He said he did not know if his son would ingest mushrooms or other drugs.

“You think you know your child, but you don’t,” he said. “Someone may have given him something. That’s something we need to find out.”

Davis is charged with murder and was being held Wednesday without bail at the Miami-Dade County Jail. Jail records do not indicate if he has an attorney. Police incorrectly listed his last name as “David” in their original arrest report.

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This story corrects the suspect’s last name to Davis, not David. The latter was the wrong name given in the original police report. ___

Spencer reported from Fort Lauderdale.