Renewed Call for Justice at Sunday Rally for Children Shot in Minneapolis

(KNSI) – A rally in North Minneapolis Sunday brought a renewed call for justice and a push for tips leading to arrests of those responsible for shooting several children since the end of April – two of them fatally.

Nine-year-old Trinity Ottoson Smith and six-year-old Aniya Allen, both shot in May, died of their injuries. Ten-year-old Ladavionne Garret Junior of St. Cloud is still fighting for his life.

At the rally Sunday, the family gave an update on his recovery, saying he can now lift his head up on his own and is showing other signs of improvement. Davionne was shot in the head while riding in his parents’ car in Minneapolis. They were headed home after visiting Davionne’s grandmother.

Davionne’s aunt, Deja Garret, says every day is minute-by-minute, saying “one minute we’re happy, the next you’re crying, and then you are completely enraged. I’ve never felt anger like this before in my life. These are kids.”

A GoFundMe has been set up to help the Garret family. Donate by clicking here.

At least two other children have been shot in recent weeks. A bullet grazed the head of a nine-month-old, and a three-year-old was shot in the femoral artery. A police officer used a tourniquet to help stop the bleeding upon learning an ambulance was still several minutes away.

No arrests have been made in any of the shootings. The reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible is now close to $100,000. Tips can be submitted anonymously at Crime Stoppers of Minnesota. Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo said the kids who were shot are “our babies” and “our most precious resource.” He told those gathered that investigators are working around the clock to find the shooters.

Allen’s grandfather and one of the rally organizers, activist KG Wilson, says, “when you do something to a child, it hurts the whole community.”

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