In a heartbreaking incident, a Missouri woman lost her life in front of her children during a shootout between two rival groups at a gas station on Tuesday evening, as confirmed by both her family and law enforcement officials.
Identified as Shakeela Martin, this “devoted mother of five” was tragically shot while purchasing slushies with her kids at a BP station in Ferguson on June 28, according to a fundraising page set up by her family.
The 35-year-old had stopped by for the icy treats to commemorate their move into a new home planned for the following day.
“What was supposed to be a heartwarming family outing became an unthinkable tragedy,” expressed Whittley Anderson, Martin’s cousin, on the fundraising page.
“Shakeela was a loving and dedicated mother to her five beautiful children, who were her utmost priority. Her life was filled with love, resilience, and optimism for what lay ahead.”
An unidentified female friend who was at the gas station with Martin and her kids said several men pulled up to the BP and started shooting at another group of men before speeding away, local outlet 5 On Your Side reported.
The friend recalled hearing at least 10 gunshots ring out before noticing Martin had been hit by the gunfire.
Martin was shot in the head and heartbreakingly died in front of her children.
Police say another innocent bystander, a male customer, was also shot in the crossfire and is in critical condition, the outlet reported.
“It was just senseless. It’s so surreal,” Anderson told the outlet.
“How can a woman go to the store, get slushies for her kids and end up dying,” the grief-stricken relative said.
“These kids now have to live with this until they’re old and it will never go away. It will never leave our family.”
Martin’s 8-year-old niece told the outlet that her aunt “was pretty” and “kind” who gave her “lots of treats.”
“I cried because I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye and I didn’t know that she was gonna die,” the young girl said.
Martin leaves behind her five children, aged 3, 4, 9, 11 and 15.
“She was just a sweet mom, a sweet daughter and a wonderful sister,” Anderson painstakingly said.