Roseita Lavette Smith, 50, from Fort Lauderdale, faces charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after allegedly shooting her son in the thigh outside Miami’s Red Rooster restaurant on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025. The incident stemmed from a brunch argument in Overtown where Smith accused her son of being disrespectful to her and family members, escalating into the parking lot and her vehicle around 3 p.m. As he exited, she reportedly fired a single shot before fleeing, but police later apprehended her.​
Incident Escalation
The dispute began inside the restaurant on Northwest 2nd Avenue, spilling outside where both entered her car; tensions peaked when the son left, prompting Smith to follow and shoot. Officers found him bleeding on the ground, stabilized him, and transported him to Jackson Memorial Hospital in stable condition; he identified his mother as the shooter.​
Arrest and Defense
Smith was booked without bond into Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center shortly after midnight on December 26. She claimed self-defense, citing her son’s threats to assault her after refusing to exit the vehicle and alluding to his past behavior that made her fear for her safety.
