A young mother was tragically shot and killed while escorting her daughter to the bus stop on Wednesday morning, causing panic among the school children as gunfire erupted.
The 24-year-old mom of two was bringing her 7-year-old child to school when she was killed in Louisville, Kentucky.
Redaja “Juicy” Williams was brought to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.
“There was dozens of school children at that intersection waiting to catch a bus to go to school,” Homicide Commander Lt. Les Skaggs said Friday.
After the shooting, a 15-year-old was arrested, but police later said they weren’t involved in the shooting that killed the mother.
They then charged the minor with a shootout that happened the week prior, according to WLKY.
The Louisville Metro Police Department have come out in the days following the murder claiming that it seemed to be a targeted attack.
“I feel very confident in saying that she was the target of that homicide,” Skaggs said.
Officials released photos of the suspect, who had on a red hoodie and black pants.
Williams also had a 2-year-old child.
Kendra LaRue, who knew Williams and was with her at the time, said that she screamed and made “everybody get down.”
“There were kids fleeing in every direction, some heading towards the Y,” one witness recounted to WLKY. “Students were sprinting alongside my daughter and a few of our friends.”
She said her first reaction was helping the children, with her second reaction tending to Williams.
“Every time I close my eyes, I see her,” LaRue said.
“I hear her breath. I hear her gasping for air.”
A suspect has not been caught yet, and police told the US Sun Friday afternoon that the investigation was “still very active and ongoing.”
Her sister, Lavett Knuckles, was also with Williams when she was fatally shot.
“I had to watch my sister lay on the ground and take her last breath,” she said while crying in an interview with reporters.
“And there was nothing I could do about it.”
Her daughter also witnessed the shooting.
Multiple family members participated in a press conference the day after the shooting, calling for someone to come forward.
Donna Cole, the young mother’s aunt, expressed her deep distress at the press conference. “I’m traumatized. I live in fear—not for myself, but for the safety of other children,” she said.
“Be angry every day. Be proactive in your community. Be proactive in your neighborhood. Don’t talk about it. Be about it.”
“If you’re real men, say who done it. Please. ‘Cause it may be your child next,” Williams’ great-uncle Kenneth Simmons said.
Counseling will be offered to child witnesses of the shooting.
