The mother of Khamaya Dior Donelson identified her as the young victim and is making an emotional plea for help.
Officers in Houston are looking for the gunmen responsible for killing a 5-year-old girl during a drive-by shooting at an intersection in the Greenspoint area over the weekend. The incident took place on Sunday at 1 am when 5-year-old Khamaya Dior Donelson was with her mother and brother in a vehicle. The young girl's mother Kristena Watters was at a stop sign when another vehicle pulled up alongside it. She had picked up her children from daycare and wanted to take them out for ice cream, reports FOX 26.
5-Year-Old Girl 'Full of Love and Laughter' Shot to Death in Houston Drive-By Shooting https://t.co/ZIV7tT2Wsk
— People (@people) July 6, 2022
Witnesses claim to see a silver, four-door sedan approach the intersection at Northborough Drive and Rushcreek Drive. It is believed that someone in the backseat started shooting toward a food store. Multiple shots were fired that struck Khamaya and her 8-year-old brother, both of whom were in the backseat. They were rushed to the hospital where Khamaya was pronounced dead. Her brother was shot in the arm and survived. Police are unclear whether the victims were the intended target.
This is 5-year-old Khamaya Dior Donelson. She was in the car with her mother and siblings on Sunday in Greenspoint when she was shot and killed. HPD says a man fired from a car towards the food store at the intersection of Northborough and Rushcreek. The suspect shot Khamaya. pic.twitter.com/McXAX8jshC
— Mycah Hatfield (@MycahABC13) July 6, 2022
"My daughter was 5, and she was shot in her face, shot in her face, she wasn't just killed she was brutally murdered," an emotional Kristena Watters said at a press conference. "My baby was gone before they even had a chance to try and save her, and there are so many people that were at that store and so many people that will not come forward. My baby didn't deserve this. For my baby [boy] to say it should have been him…it shouldn't have been us or any of the other families. We didn't deserve this."
On July 3rd, 5-year-old Khamaya Dior Donelson was in the backseat of her moms car on Northborough Drive, when she was shot and killed next to her 8-year-old brother who was also shot but survived. The suspect, still on the run, was in a silver four door sedan pictured here. pic.twitter.com/qHfmW4WYot
— Brooke Taylor (@ABC13Brooke) July 6, 2022
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help the family cover funeral costs for the five-year-old. It said: 5 year old Khamaya was riding in the car with her mother and brother when she was struck by stray bullets entering the vehicle. This tragic loss has left family and friends devastated and confused. She was such a precious child full of love and laughter. With sadness in our hearts, At this time we are asking our Houston community as well as anyone that this reaches to please!!! Help us lay her to rest. According to CNN, Houston Police Asst. Chief Chandra Hatcher told reporters on Sunday that officials are looking for surveillance footage and requested anyone who knows more about the incident to come forward. A reward of $25,000 is being offered to anyone with information regarding the incident, thanks to a generous pledge by Houston businessman Tillman Fertitta
Officials are asking anyone with information on the suspects to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477). You may also call the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600.
She says her 8-year-old son said he wished it was him, something no mother should hear. Right now the reward is $25K. Call crime stoppers at 713-222-8477 pic.twitter.com/cYP3xJ90Zf
— Brooke Taylor (@ABC13Brooke) July 6, 2022