Apopka community honors the life of 8-year-old killed by speeding robbery suspect

APOPKA, Fla. — Dozens of people in a small community along North Maine Avenue honored the life of 8-year-old Jayden Miranda, who was killed Thursday morning.

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Neighbors along North Maine Ave set up a memorial with candles, teddy bears, and flowers where Jayden’s mother’s car crashed.

“Rest in peace, you know,” said Denise Lamotte. “It’s sad, it’s really sad. I was emotional.”

Lamotte told Channel 9 that the memory of the crash would never leave her mind as she called the police and watched first responders clear the scene.

Read: Suspect arrested in Apopka fatal crash had a criminal history

“I was facing the passenger side,” said Lamotte. “The guy took him out. I was there, and I saw the little boy. I saw him pull him out.”

Family and friends gathered and surrounded the Miranda family as they prayed, cried, and remembered a little boy they said was taken away from them too soon.

Read: 8-year-old dies in Apopka crash involving fleeing car burglary suspect

Jayden died after a car crashed into his mother’s car while she was driving Jayden and his brother to school.

38-year-old Marcus Williams drove the other car, speeding down North Maine Avenue after a burglary.

Jayden’s mother sustained injuries and was taken to the hospital.

Williams was charged with felony murder for the crash and three other charges for the burglary.

Read: Apopka High School teacher charged in ‘sexual incident’ with teenage boy after giving him edibles

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