Senseless End in the City: Promising Miami Professional Zanthus Hairston Killed by Stray Bullet

Miami, Florida — In what friends and family are calling a devastating and needless loss, 28-year-old Zanthus “Zan” Hairston was struck by a stray bullet late Friday night in the Little Havana neighborhood and pronounced dead shortly thereafter at a local hospital.

Authorities with the Miami Police Department say the incident occurred around 11:45 p.m. near the intersection of SW 8th Street and 14th Avenue, where Hairston had stopped after attending a networking event. The area was known to be busy, with foot traffic and street vendors still active well past midnight. According to police, Hairston exited a ride-share vehicle and began walking toward a nearby parked car when gunfire erupted — seemingly unrelated to anything he was doing. Investigators say the shooting appears to be random, and they are treating it as a stray-bullet homicide.

When officers arrived, they found Hairston collapsed on the sidewalk, unresponsive and bleeding. He was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, where doctors attempted to save his life. Tragically, he was declared deceased at approximately 12:35 a.m. The medical examiner later confirmed that the cause of death was a single gunshot wound to the head.

Hairston, a Miami native, had graduated from Florida International University with a degree in business management and was working at a fast-rising marketing firm in downtown Miami. Colleagues described him as “talented, driven, and personable” with the kind of ambition that promised a bright future. His LinkedIn profile noted several recent promotions and involvement in community mentoring programs.

Friends say Hairston had spent the evening building relationships — coaching younger professionals, talking about his upcoming promotion, and planning a weekend trip to visit family in Georgia. “He always gave back,” said one friend, Marcus Rivera. “He was the guy who would stay late to help you with your résumé, who would drive across town at a moment’s notice if you needed a ride. It’s so unfair.”

Miami Police say crime scene investigators collected more than a dozen shell casings from the area, and multiple surveillance cameras from nearby businesses and apartment buildings are being reviewed. Investigators do not yet have a suspect in custody, and police have asked anyone who was present at the scene or has footage to come forward. “At this time, we believe the shooter did not target Mr. Hairston specifically,” said Detective Sandra Lopez. “We are treating this as a tragic incident of gunfire in a public place.”

Mayor Francis X. Suárez issued a statement offering condolences to Hairston’s family and calling for stronger efforts to reduce gun violence in the city. “When a promising young professional is lost because of random violence, it affects not only the family, but our entire community,” the statement read. “We must do more to ensure our public spaces are safe.”

A memorial service has been planned for next Saturday at Grace Lutheran Church in Midtown, where colleagues, friends, and community members will gather to celebrate Hairston’s life. His family opened a scholarship fund in his memory aimed at supporting young professionals from underprivileged backgrounds interested in marketing and business.

“Zan lived for connection,” said his sister, Leah Hairston. “He believed in helping others rise, even as he climbed. His passing leaves a gap that can never be filled, but his spirit will live on through the people he helped.”

At the scene, family, friends and neighborhood residents left flowers, candles, and photos of Hairston smiling — a visual reminder of the promise he held. Onlookers described a somber atmosphere as the stretch of SW 8th Street remains taped off, a symbol of a life interrupted at its peak.

As the investigation continues and the city mourns, the central message remains: a life full of potential was abruptly taken, not by fate or illness, but by a random act of violence that rattled a community already striving for healing. Authorities continue to ask for any tips to resolve the case and bring closure to the family of Zanthus “Zan” Hairston.