A young man was the victim of what appears to be an execution style shooting on Sunday morning while working as a security guard in a North Miami apartment complex.

The incident occurred at about 1:00 a.m., according to WSVN Channel 7, which first reported the story Wednesday afternoon – three days after the murder.

Needless to say, the senseless murder of a young man in the prime of his life, who leaves behind a now fatherless eight year old daughter and other family members, is tragic and heartbreaking.

Channel 7 was the first to report this crime.  Other local stations and the Miami Herald followed suit, but only WSVN and CBS Miami still have the story posted on its front page, despite the fact that this murder is only four days old and is still unsolved.

If North Miami Police have any leads, they’re not releasing much information other than “investigators removed a camera at the security booth where L’Amour was shot. It may contain footage of the incident.”  They are also asking anyone with information to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.

The victim’s brother told Channel 7, “If somebody knows something, like, they can go forward. Tell us or call the police. Give us a lead. That’s all we’re looking for.”

Unfortunately, the chances of someone risking their own safety to come forward with information are slim.  At least not right away.

I have no doubt that eventually the police will find the perpetrator.  The killer is bound to slip up sooner or later, especially if this was a “revenge” killing.  He (or she) won’t be able to resist bragging about his “victory.”  Criminals are usually quite dumb.  Most of the time, their inherent stupidity, combined with arrogance, ultimately leads to their arrest.

But for now, a human being is dead.

Because of this vicious murder, Vinel L’Amour’s young daughter will grow up with only a memory of a father who will never help her with her homework, attend her high school graduation, send her off to college or walk her down the aisle.

Instead of planning a Sunday dinner, an Easter egg hunt or a summertime family reunion, Vinel L’Amour’s brother and other family members will now have to plan a funeral for a loved one who died way before his time.

Maybe I’m naive, or something, but I still can’t help wondering how the unfortunate story about police officers using mugshots for sniper training (in which no actual human beings were harmed in the process) went viral and made international headlines.

Yet it took the media three long days to even report this tragic murder.

There was community outrage over the fact that fifteen year old mugshots were found with bullet holes in them.

I totally get that.  It was tasteless and offensive.

Will there be community outrage over a real live human being who died after he was found “bleeding from at least one gunshot wound?”

This is beyond tasteless and offensive.  This  is an abomination!

A little perspective here, folks.  That’s all I’m saying.

If anyone out there has any information about the murder of Vinel D’Amour, I implore you to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477).  You may not even realize that you know something that could help solve this crime.  The victim’s family is counting on your support!

In the meantime, if you happen to run into Police Chief Leonard Burgess, you might want to remind him that his job is to fight crime and hunt down murderers.

Instead of going after the media, he should concentrate on getting rid of the bad guys in North Miami.

All  of them!

Just saying.

UPDATE:  The Miami Herald posted on 1/31/15 at 5:36 p.m that an arrest has been made and that Loudy Joseph, 21, has been charged with first-degree murder.

Stephanie Kienzle
“Spreading the Wealth”