GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grand Rapids Police say they're searching for the killer of a young girl.
“When we do find out what the motive is. It's going to be something that doesn't make any sense to take the life of a young 15-year-old girl,” said Chief of Police Eric Winstrom.
LaKijah Williams, 15, was shot and killed over the weekend.
Winstrom says it happened Saturday night in downtown Grand Rapids. Williams was on Ottawa Avenue near Studio Park, hanging out with her friends.
“[She was] shot by someone acting like a coward, that's what I'm going to say. Just out on a scooter downtown, with her friends enjoying the warm Saturday night. So, it makes no sense whatsoever,” said Winstrom.
Details are limited in the case, as officials say they don't know what led up to the shooting. But what they do know is that she was shot from a distance.
“Multiple shots were fired, whether she was the target or whether there was someone she was with who was the target is yet to be determined,” said Winstrom.
Winstrom says this is only the third homicide GRPD is investigating so far this year. But in situations like these, he says crime statistics don't matter, getting justice for these families is what matters the most.
“I know that families grieving and we're going to do everything we can as a police department to make sure that we have less grieving families,” said Winstrom.
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