On the evening of March 26, 2025, a tragic shooting occurred in Pembroke Park, near Hallandale Beach Boulevard, resulting in the deaths of multiple individuals, including 11-year-old Xion Solomon, a male child. Authorities responded to reports of gunfire at approximately 7:36 p.m. and discovered six people shot inside a residence. Among the deceased were Xion Solomon, his mother, 32-year-old Julie Cruz, and his two younger half-brothers, 2-year-old Nova McKenzie and 2-year-old Emery McKenzie.
Xion Solomon, a young male, was fatally wounded in the incident, which has been described as a domestic violence-related tragedy.
Law enforcement officials identified the suspect as 34-year-old Stephen McKenzie, who was found at the scene with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. McKenzie, the biological father of Nova and Emery McKenzie, was taken into custody at the hospital, where he was receiving medical treatment. Authorities confirmed that charges against McKenzie were pending as the investigation continued. The only survivor among the children was 8-year-old Phiinyx Solomon, Xion Solomon’s sister, who was also injured in the attack and transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Neighbors reported hearing multiple gunshots followed by the screams of children before emergency responders arrived. The shooting took place in a four-story apartment building, where officers from the Pembroke Park Police Department, Broward Sheriff’s Office, and Hallandale Beach Police Department worked together to secure the scene. Investigators later revealed that Julie Cruz and Stephen McKenzie shared two children, Nova and Emery McKenzie, while Xion Solomon and Phiinyx Solomon had a different father.
Authorities urged anyone with additional information about the case to contact Broward County Crime Stoppers. The investigation remains ongoing as officials work to determine the full circumstances surrounding the tragic deaths of Xion Solomon, his mother, and his younger siblings.
