Skip to main content
Rain icon
45º

'She was a miracle baby,' mother of slain Detroit girl says

6-month-old killed April 16 on Winthrop Street

DETROIT – Jennifer Murray named her ninth child Miracle after she was born healthy, despite doctors telling her that the baby would have multiple problems.

"She was a miracle baby. She was the light of my life," Murray said. "Miracle was loving. She liked to hug and kiss on your face. She was a loving baby."

Murray said she and several family members were outside their home on Winthrop Street on April 16 enjoying the spring weather when gunfire erupted.

"A guy just came out of nowhere and started shooting," Murray said. “After that first shot, my vision just somehow went blurry. The first thing that came to my mind was, 'Grab your baby.'”

Murray said she grabbed Miracle's stroller and ran into the house. Once inside, she realized that her daughter wasn't moving.

"We had a special way that we cuddled when we sleep. I'm going to miss that, a lot," Murray said.

Murray said she has no idea who the gunman was, but thinks the shooting might have been in retaliation for a shooting on Easter morning that killed 3-year-old Anaiya Montgomery. Murray's son, Reginald Street, is charged in the shooting.

She said her son isn't a criminal and got caught up with the wrong people.

Her message to the community: “They need to put these guns down. Do something positive with yourself. Whatever happened to working your problems out, talking them out?" Murray said. "Stop picking up these guns, because we’re losing these kids every day to gun violence. It just doesn’t make sense."

Two people are in custody in connection with Miracle’s shooting. Police have released a sketch of a third man whom they are looking for.

An online fund has been started for Miracle's funeral.

Watch: Full interview with Jennifer Murray


Recommended Videos