What was supposed to be a simple family celebration before moving into a new home turned into an unimaginable tragedy for one Missouri family.
Shakeela Martin, a 35-year-old mother of five, was fatally struck by a stray bullet while buying slushies with her children at a BP gas station in Ferguson, according to police and family members. Authorities say Martin was an innocent bystander caught in gunfire that erupted after an altercation, leaving her children to witness the devastating loss.
Police continue investigating the shooting and say they are pursuing promising leads as Martin’s loved ones mourn a woman they describe as the heart of her family.
A family celebration ended in tragedy
According to the Ferguson Police Department, the shooting happened on June 30 outside a BP gas station near South Florissant and Woodstock roads. Investigators said an argument that began inside the convenience store spilled into the parking lot before multiple shots were fired. Martin, who was at the gas station with her children, was struck by a stray bullet during the exchange…