Crime & Safety
9-year-old Girl Who Asked Police if They Could Keep Her Safe, Dies.
She asked police in-person whether they could keep her safe only days before she was struck by gunfire. She died Monday afternoon.
MILWAUKEE — Tragic news out of Milwaukee today, as the 9-year-old girl who was struck by a stray bullet during a shooting less than a week after she asked whether Milwaukee police could keep her safe, has died.
According to a Journal Sentinel report, Za'layia Jenkins was pronounced dead at 5 p.m., according to a medical examiner's official.
Her family had set up a Go Fund Me page to help the family cover expenses as a result of the tragic events of this month. You can see that page here.
Find out what's happening in Waukeshafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
She died one day before a rally had been planned in her honor:
Za'layia was struck by a bullet that pierced a wall of her home in the 1500 block of W. Meinecke Ave. as she watched television shortly before 8:30 p.m. May 5, according to Milwaukee police.
Find out what's happening in Waukeshafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
May 6:
Heartbreaking news out of Milwaukee late last night after a 9-year-old girl was critically injured in a shooting.
According to a report from the Journal Sentinel, the girl,Za'Layia Jenkins and her family met Milwaukee police captain Capt. Shunta Boston-Smith, who spoke with the family about their safety concerns.
According to Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn, Jenkins asked the captain whether the police could keep her safe.
"Sadly, that question was ansered tonight," Flynn said to reporters.
WKOW 27 @WKOWTOP STORY: Nine-year-old Milwaukee girl hurt in shooting.#WakeUpWisconsin #WKOW http://bit.ly/1SRcTbV
Two groups of people reportedly exchanged gunfire in a shootout in the girl's neighborhood just before 8:30 p.m. in the 1500 block of W. Meinecke Ave.
According to the Journal Sentinel, the Jenkins was struck by a bullet that had pierced a wall in her home.
Jenkins was taken to Children's Hospital and was in critical condition as of 10:30 p.m., Milwaukee police Chief Ed Flynn said.
______________________
Get Patched In:
Stay up-to-date with Metro Milwaukee News with Patch! There are many ways for you to connect and stay in touch: Newsletters and E-Mail Alerts | Facebook | Twitter
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
