In Ferguson, Missouri, a mother of five lost her life in a tragic shooting incident during a late-night stop with two of her children to buy slushies. The sudden burst of gunfire erupted at a gas station, prompting law enforcement officials to launch a search for the perpetrator.
The victim, 35-year-old Shakeela Martin, was fatally shot just before midnight on Tuesday at a BP gas station located at the intersection of South Florissant and Woodstock roads. According to the Ferguson Police Department, a conflict that started inside the convenience store escalated, spilling over into the parking lot where the fatal event unfolded.
Martin’s stop at the gas station with her 9-year-old and 6-year-old was meant to be a simple errand for cold beverages on a warm summer evening. However, the night turned tragic when gunshots rang out, and she was hit as she returned to her car with her children. Police officials believe Martin was an innocent victim caught in the crossfire.
“She was here to get some drinks for her kids,” explained Ferguson Police Chief Troy Doyle to First Alert 4. “While they are physically unharmed, the emotional damage is considerable. It’s heartbreaking to think about the trauma children endure witnessing such a tragic event happen to their mother right in front of them.”
BP gas station in Ferguson, Missouri; Shakeela Martin. (Google Maps; GoFundMe)
A second victim, an adult man, was also struck by gunfire and hospitalized in critical condition. Police have not said whether he was involved in the altercation or was the intended target.
A Google Earth image shows the BP gas station at the intersection of South Florissant and Woodstock roads in Ferguson, Missouri, where police say 35-year-old Shakeela Martin, a mother of five, was fatally shot while buying slushies with two of her children. Investigators are searching for the gunman. (Google Maps)
Investigators said the confrontation began inside the gas station before spilling into the parking lot, where shots were fired. No arrests have been announced, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Martin leaves behind five children and a grieving family that says she was on the verge of beginning a new chapter in life.
According to a GoFundMe campaign, Martin was preparing to move her family into a new home the day after she was killed. To celebrate, she had taken her children to the BP station for slushies before the family’s plans were shattered by gunfire.
It is unclear what led to the shooting. (Stephen M. Katz/South Florida Sun-Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
“Our hearts are shattered as we mourn the unimaginable loss of our beloved Shakeela Martin, who was taken from us far too soon at just 35 years old,” the fundraiser states.
The campaign describes Martin as “a devoted mother to five beautiful children who were the center of her world” and says she did not have life insurance. Organizers said donations will help cover funeral and burial expenses, with any additional funds going toward the immediate needs of her children.
“We will forever cherish Shakeela’s memory and the love she gave so freely to everyone around her,” the fundraiser site says.
The Ferguson Police Department is asking anyone with information about the shooting to contact investigators at 314-522-3100 or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS.