A seven-year-old girl from North Carolina faced an untimely death at the hands of a man who was released from jail. Aaliyah Grace Norris was just eating ice cream inside the family car when she was shot just as the car was passing Oak Street. The suspect, Shaquille Marshon Francis, 26, was just released from jail three hours prior to the incident.
Family members immediately summoned police officers at the intersection. By the time the paramedics arrived, Aaliyah was already in fighting for her life after sustaining a single gunshot wound to the head. The victim was rushed to the hospital, but ultimately passed away a day later due to her injuries.
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Forest City Police Department confirmed that the suspect immediately fled the scene. Several eyewitnesses claimed that Francis rode in a black SUV. During a press release, the authorities asked anyone with vital information about the crime to come forward.
After gathering useful tips from the community, the authorities eventually pinned down the shooting to Francis, who was just recently released from jail. According to Daily Mail, was incarcerated for unrelated charges earlier that day, wherein he was accused of assault after pointing a gun.
For Aaliyah’s senseless murder, the suspect will be facing charges related to assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury with intent to kill, discharging a weapon into occupied property inflicting serious bodily injury, and discharging a firearm within the city limits. He’s currently being held in Rutherford County Jail with $10 million secure bond.
As of now, the motive behind the senseless murder was still unknown. But the victim’s uncle hinted that his niece was not the intended target. According to New York Post, LJ Miller claimed that this was a case of ‘mistaken identity.’
“Today my niece Aaliyah Grace Norris was shot and is in critical condition in Spartanburg Hospital. This is something that has broke my heart because they shot into the wrong car.
“He shot at the wrong car, it was a car that was full of kids. Now look a sweet beautiful little girl that done nothing wrong got shot because stupid people with guns.”
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