In a tragic turn of events, an 11-year-old Minneapolis girl found herself in the line of fire, becoming an unintended victim of New Year's revelry gone awry. Laneria Wilson was in the sanctuary of her bedroom when a stray bullet, fired by someone ostensibly celebrating the onset of 2024, tore through her window and struck her in the face. The shooting occurred shortly after midnight in a home on the 2300 block of Bryant Ave. N, according to KARE 11 news.
Shenedra Ross, the girl's mother, recounted the harrowing moments to CBS News Minnesota, saying, "Twelve o'clock hit we heard a gun go off. It sounded like it was right in our yard." The initial shock was soon compounded by her daughter's cry of pain, leading Ross to discover the bloody scene. "I just jumped up and ran to my daughter who was shot and seen blood running down her face and I grabbed something and just put pressure to it," she added. The celebration that shattered the silence of their north-side home has now etched a permanent mark on the family's memories.
Police and paramedics were quick on the scene to dispatch Laneria to Hennepin Healthcare for treatment of what was reported as non-life-threatening injuries. According to KARE 11, no arrests have been made as of yet, and the investigation is ongoing with officers having canvassed the scene and collected evidence.
For Ross, witnessing her child injured by a bullet was a chilling reminder of earlier violence inflicted upon the community's children. "Them three babies that got hurt not too long ago that's honestly all I kept thinking about my baby could have been gone," Ross told CBS News Minnesota. Ross now contemplates moving from the neighborhood she grew up in, seeking a future where her children can flourish.
The community has been rallied to the aid of the Wilson family, with a fund established to support them during this challenging recovery period. As Minneapolis police delve into the circumstances surrounding this shooting.
