Riverchase Galleria Paying For Slain 8-Year-Old Child's Funeral

BESSEMER, AL — The funeral for 8-year-old Royta Giles will be held Saturday, and the expenses for the child's memorial service and burial will be covered by the Riverchase Galleria, the mall where the Bessemer child was shot.

Officials with the Galleria confirmed Monday that the funeral service, to be held at the Bessemer Civic Center Saturday at noon, would be paid for by the mall.

Royta was shot during an altercation July 3 at the Galleria that resulted in an exchange of gunfire on the first floor of the mall. Lieutenant Keith Czeskleba of the Hoover Police Department said an investigation found that Montez Moses Miracle Coleman got into a verbal argument on the first level of the mall, near the food court.

During the argument, police said Coleman pulled out a 5.56 caliber pistol from a backpack and fired toward the other men involved in the altercation. Several of them were armed and fired back, according to police. Royta and three other victims were struck by bullets. The other three victims are recovering from their injuries.

Coleman was arrested Sunday and charged with capital murder. Others involved in the altercation are being sought by police.

"A child died because people to chose to settle a verbal argument by firing guns at each other in a crowded mall," said Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis in a statement Monday. "We’re not going to be satisfied until all of those responsible for this tragedy are held accountable."

A vigil was held Monday night at Avondale Park for Royta, who was a student at Jonesboro Elementary School in Bessemer, according to an Alabama Media Group report.

Civil rights leaders and local church leaders were on hand to give commentary on the child's slaying as it relates to the Black Lives Matter movement.

"When we march against police brutality in America we chant Black Lives Matter. When an 8-year-old black kid is killed inside of a mall for simply doing nothing, we should demand justice just as equitably," said Birmingham Justice League president Carlos Chaverst in the al.com report. "His young black life matters, too. And we have to act as such."