Kendall Berrington (Fischer Family Funeral Services). Background: The Michigan gas station where pregnant 19-year-old victim Kendall Berrington was “caught in the crossfire” of a shootout and killed on New Year’s Eve (WJRT/YouTube).
In a tragic incident in Michigan, a 19-year-old pregnant woman was fatally shot in the head, along with her unborn child, at a gas station. The shooting was perpetrated by another teenager who entered the store and began firing indiscriminately, according to police reports.
Saginaw County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Blair Stevenson explained during the arraignment of 17-year-old Korvareaon Smith that a gunfight erupted almost instantly, tragically catching the victim, Kendall Berrington, in the crossfire. Smith faces multiple charges, including open murder, assault with intent to murder, homicide of an unborn child, discharging a firearm in or at a building, and felony firearm, as reported by local ABC affiliate WJRT.
Prosecutor Stevenson shared that Berrington had been experiencing contractions and had stopped at the gas station to purchase a soda on New Year’s Eve when the tragic event occurred.
As detailed in court documents obtained by MLive.com, Smith allegedly drew a gun immediately upon entering the Marathon gas station on Court Street in Saginaw and opened fire at another individual inside. A 22-year-old man accompanying Berrington was also shot and critically injured. A mother and her 7-year-old child miraculously escaped harm, according to prosecutors.
“It’s an incredibly tragic situation,” Stevenson remarked, emphasizing how Smith recklessly initiated violence in a setting with innocent bystanders, as MLive.com reports.
Court documents describe the incident as a callous act of violence, asserting that Smith poses a significant threat to the community.
Smith is reportedly on probation and has been in and out of custody multiple times over the years, according to prosecutors. “It seems he cannot refrain from criminal behavior,” the court documents state.
The teen’s juvenile record dates back to 2021 and includes adjudications of being a runaway, tampering with a probation tether [electronic monitoring device], fleeing police, and operating a motor vehicle without a license, according to MLive.com. Smith cut off his monitoring device in May 2023 and was “AWOL for nearly two weeks … before being apprehended by police and placed in detention,” prosecutors say.
The teen also went “AWOL,” or absent without official leave, in July 2023 before being placed in a residential detention facility, MLive.com reports. He has reportedly failed court-ordered drug tests multiple times in the past, as well.
Berrington’s family says she was due to deliver a son named Roman on Jan. 14. Her birthday was on Jan. 10.
“She adored the character Stitch, from Lilo and Stitch,” Berrington’s obituary says. “Kendall was always smiling, loved being around people, was the life of the party wherever she went, and was known as a great kid. She will be forever missed by her family, friends, and all who knew her.”
Berrington’s brother told WJRT after the shooting that she and her family would visit the gas station frequently.
“Every night at least once a day we would be walking over to that gas station,” Brent Morris said.
Smith surrendered to Saginaw police on Jan. 13 while accompanied by a parent, according to MLive.com. He is scheduled to appear for a probable cause conference on Wednesday and is being held without bond.
