Video

Honors Student Killed Over Hottest Car Competition 5/22/06 Noon Liv Davalos The Miami Police Department is searching for the suspect they believe is responsible for the death of a Liberty City teen who was shot and killed Sunday. 22 year-old Antwan Grace of 1755 NW 40th Street is being sought by officials in connection to the murder of Jeffrey Johnson. Grace has been considered armed and dangerous by police. Jeffrey Johnson, 16-year-old honors student from Carol City High School, celebrating his graduation, was killed Sunday morning, still wearing his graduation cap, over an argument over which teen had the hottest car. Two other students were hurt in the shooting, which happened at a Miami house party. Police are calling the death of 16 year old Jeffrey Johnson of 3370 NW 214th Street a senseless tragedy. Miami police spokesman Delrish Moss says the teen was shot as teens were voting, with cheers, over who had the hottest car at a party taking place at 1752 NW 53rd street in Miami. According to Moss, the students were cheering over which car was the winner, Johnson's burnt-orange Monte Carlo, or a Grand Prix owned by another teen. The cars were parked nose to nose, police say, when just after 1 a.m., Johnson went to the trunk of his car and slapped his white graduation cap on his head, as friends were cheering his car. Seconds later, the owner of the second car apparently ran over and punched Johnson in the face, touching off a fight. As the two teens were punching each other, witnesses say gunshots rang out. The crowd scattered, and when the smoke cleared, Johnson was dead and two other teens, 19-year-old Emmanuel Ware and 18-year-old Wilson Jean-Paul, had been hit by bullets. Both teens suffered injuries which were not life threatening. The news of Johnson's death stunned his friends and family. They say the teen was a hard worker in school, holding a 5.5 GPA, who was planning to attend college at St. Thomas University, having won a Bright Futures college scholarship. His family told police Johnson has received one of the highest scores in Florida on his 10th grade FCAT exam. Police spokesman Moss called the death a senseless tragedy. "What kind of kid takes a gun to a teenage party?" he asked. U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek released a statement following the death of Jeffrey Johnson who incidentally was a former intern in Meek's Miami Gardens office. "Jeffrey interned in my office in the fall of 2004. He was a hardworking young man who was full of promise. This is a terrible tragedy for our community, and my prayers and thoughts are with his family and friends in this difficult time." Police are asking for the public's help in locating Antwan Grace. Anyone with information can call the Miami police department or Crimestoppers at 305-471-TIPS.