Two Miami mothers whose teenage sons were killed in a 2009 mass shooting in Liberty City have filed a lawsuit against the Miami Police Department, alleging the agency unlawfully withheld critical case records and failed to inform them that the confessed gunman had been granted immunity.
Lasonja “Sonja” Mills and Tangela Johnson filed the lawsuit Thursday, accusing police of withholding public records in bad faith, charging unreasonable fees, and violating their rights as crime victims under Marsy’s Law. The mothers are seeking access to nine boxes of case materials related to the killing of their sons, Brandon Rashad Mills, 16, and Derrick Lamont Gloster Jr., 18.
According to the lawsuit, the women have spent two years requesting the records through their attorney. Police have said the case remains open and have declined to release key details. The department has also requested $1,831 to produce some of the files, though not all materials would be included.
The mothers argue there is no realistic chance of prosecution and that, as next of kin, they are entitled to the records without excessive cost.
“The true purpose of withholding the records,” the lawsuit states, “is to conceal prosecutorial misconduct and the secret immunity deal that allowed a confessed mass murderer to walk free, not to protect an ongoing investigation.”
The case stems from a Jan. 23, 2009, shooting in Liberty City in which gunmen opened fire on a group of teenagers gathered near a neighborhood market. Brandon and Derrick were killed, and seven others were wounded in what was one of Miami’s deadliest mass shootings at the time.
For years, the case went unsolved.
The mothers say they only learned in 2024 — through a Miami Herald investigative series — that the admitted shooter, William “Little Bill” Brown, had confessed to the killings but was never prosecuted for them as part of a broader plea arrangement.
The Miami Herald reported that Brown was allowed to avoid charges in multiple shootings, including the Liberty City case, despite admitting involvement in violence that left at least six people dead and nine others wounded. In exchange, he cooperated with prosecutors and acted as an informant while housed in the Miami-Dade jail.
Brown ultimately received a 25-year sentence tied to two separate murders, but no additional time for the Liberty City killings or other acts he admitted to, according to the Herald’s reporting.
“They treated us like our sons were the shooters,” Mills told the Herald. “And the real shooter for 17 years has been treated like a king.”
Johnson said the lawsuit is about transparency and understanding how decisions were made.
“Honestly, we have concerns that the investigation may have been incomplete, biased, or handled improperly,” she said. “Our hope is that, through transparency, we can better understand the decisions that were made and identify any gaps that may have prevented a just outcome.”
The Herald’s investigation, titled “Deal with the Devil,” brought renewed attention to the case and prompted Miami police to reopen the homicide investigation. However, no new arrests have been made.
The reporting also raised questions about the conduct of former Miami-Dade prosecutor Michael Von Zamft, who handled Brown as an informant. The Herald found that Brown remained in county jail for years, providing information to law enforcement while receiving special treatment.
As part of that arrangement, records show that authorities helped relocate Brown’s mother through a witness protection program and paid her rent.
Von Zamft has since retired and moved out of state. He remains under investigation by The Florida Bar, according to a spokesperson.
The fallout from the Herald’s findings has already impacted other cases. One man previously serving four life sentences was released, and prosecutors dropped the death penalty in another case tied to Brown’s cooperation.
Now, the mothers are turning to the courts in hopes of finally getting answers.
For families who have waited more than a decade, Johnson said, the goal is simple: “clarity and accountability.”