2 charged in killing of Miami 7-year-old

Police: Dravein Duke fired rifle, Maxwell Trewin drove get-away truck

MIAMI-DADE, Fla. – During a drug deal gone wrong at a neighboring home, Miami-Dade detectives believe Dravein "Pop" Duke, 19, and Maxwell Trewin, 21, were seeking revenge. They were armed with a rifle. 

A stray bullet that went through a wall hit and killed Amiere Castro, a first-grade honor roll student at Coral Reef Elementary. He had just moved to Miami-Dade from Pennsylvania in 2014.  

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The two were in custody Tuesday in the killing of the 7-year-old boy, who was playing with his 12-year-old brother when bullets started flying.

Amiere was shot in the head and died in his brothers arms at his cousin's home in South Miami-Dade. His mom was on her way to pick the boys up.

WPLG-TV learned a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old who were also wounded were the intended target in the drive-by shooting after a marijuana deal gone wrong.

Homicide detectives said they have evidence linking Duke and Trewin to the weapon and the get-away car. 

After his photo made it to wanted posters and the news, Duke turned himself to police in Doral Tuesday and was at Turner Gillford Knight Correctional Facility. With the help of a police dog, officers arrested Trewin, 21, hours after the shooting.

But after turning himself in, Duke's attorney said he is the victim of mistaken identity.

However, the two wounded teens told police it was in fact Duke in the front passenger seat of the white Dodge pick-up truck. Trewin was driving about 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

After Duke allegedly held up an AK-47 and sprayed the house with bullets, Trewin stepped on the gas, police said. A bullet made it to the living room and struck Amiere Castro in the head.

Those who knew Amiere described him as smart, eager and competitive. Cedric Philpot, who was Amiere's Pee-wee football coach, said he remembers his smile.

"His smile. I mean, when we are ready to play football, his smile, when he looks at us, he nods at us," Philpot said.

Amiere's No. 14 jersey will be retired from Palmetto Bay Broncos organization in his honor.

"We were supposed to be planning New Year's with fire works and stuff, but instead we are planning a funeral," Tobler said.

Detectives found the rifle believed to have been used in the drive-by shooting at 10261 SW 152 St. It was there where a witness told police that Duke had access to the rifle and had left that afternoon with Trewin. The suspected getaway car was at 14820 SW 103 Place, Duke's last known address.

Trewin is facing a second-degree murder charge. He was on probation for burglary and grand theft. Duke is also facing a charge of second-degree murder, premeditated murder, discharging a firearm from a vehicle. The two were set to appear in court Wednesday.

And as the candles at a memorial for the 7-year-old boy were lit, another drive-by shooting hurt another boy in South Miami-Dade. This time it was a 13 year old boy, who remained hospitalized Tuesday.

Police were still looking for suspects in the two shootings.

"When you see our youth getting taken out for something that had nothing to do with them, it's upsetting and it's very very sad," Philpot said.

Correction: The original version of this story reported Maxwel Trewin's age as 18, but an arrest form later identified him as a 21 year old. 


About the Author:

Dawn Jorgenson, Graham Media Group Branded Content Managing Editor, began working with the group in April 2013. She graduated from Texas State University with a degree in electronic media.