BALTIMORE — Nykayla Strawder, just 15 years old, was outside of her Southwest Baltimore home Saturday evening when a gun went off.
Police said a 9-year-old playing with a loaded gun fired a shot that killed Strawder.
On Tuesday night, on Linnard Street, where the murder occurred three days earlier, friends, family and community members came together to honor young NyKayla Strawder for a candlelight vigil.
"I miss my daughter. Words can't describe how I feel at this moment," said Dontay Jones, Nykayla's father.
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People arrived with flowers, candles, balloons, stories and emotions.
People traveled from near and far to attend a vigil to honor her life.
NyKayla had big dreams but her life was cut short when a 9-year-old pulled the trigger of a gun right on her own porch. Her family believes it wasn't an accident.
"You murdered my daughter," Jones said. "You had all the intention of killing my 11-year-old son but when he didn't come outside. You took it out on his older sister."
The 9-year old’s family hasn't released a public statement, but NyKayla's family said what hurts the most is that they knew the young boy.
Police said the 9-year-old, whose name has not been released, was playing with the loaded gun when it "accidentally" went off. Strawder was shot in the head and was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Officers said the 9-year-old then dropped the gun and ran away.
Police found the gun, which is registered to a female relative of the boy who is an armed security guard.
There have been 219 murder investigations in Baltimore City in 2022.
"Something has to change in the City of Baltimore. There is too much violence. We need peace. We need unity," Jones said.
NyKayla's family said they are not letting their anger get the best of them.
They said this vigil was to not only honor her life, it's also to get the community to realize its going to take a village to put the next generation on the right path.
"She was my everything," said Donyaette McCray, NyKayla's aunt. "This shouldn't have happened. Things need to change and it starts at home check your kids, see what their doing, ask Where their going. I don't want this to happen to someone else but as hard as this is, I'm gonna fight. I am not going to stop until I get justice for Nykayla because she didn't deserve this."
