Stephanie Telusme, 27, and her 23-year-old younger sister Joanna Telusme were shot and killed in a suspected drive-by shooting at the Annie Coleman public housing complex in Liberty City, Miami. Two other victims, who are in stable condition, were also struck in the incident, according to Miami-Dade police.
Witnesses say the shooting was more than likely targeting the friends the sisters were visiting. Police say the women were standing around a car when a gunman (or gunmen) began shooting at the vehicle.
Officers were dispatched to the area around 1:30 a.m., responding to a ShotSpotter signal of gunfire, said Miami-Dade Police Detective Alvaro Zabaleta. One of the officers attempted to stop a vehicle leaving the area, but the driver refused to stop,” Zabaleta said. Instead, the driver and passengers abandoned the car and fled on foot, only to be caught after police set up a perimeter and used helicopter assistance.
Terry Silien, the sisters’ cousin, said they drove down from Broward County for a night out and were in the wrong place at the wrong time. “It’s just crazy, they’re not even from around this area, and they go pick up a friend or see a friend, one of the two, and end up getting shot and hit in the crossfire, somebody shooting recklessly, shooting at somebody or whatever, and two sisters are gone tonight,” Silien said.
A GoFundMe fundraiser has been set up to help their family with funeral expenses. The family has also launched pleads against gun violence while mourning Stephanie and Joanna Telusme, who were known to be extremely close. The fundraiser website says, “Everyone who knew Stephanie and Joanna knew that they were inseparable, they did everything together, and it gives our family a sense of peace to know that they now have each other for eternity.”
