Girl, seven, dies days after being shot in the back of the head while Christmas shopping with her family, as Atlanta records its deadliest year in two decades
A Christmas shopping trip ended in tragedy for a seven-year-old girl who was the unintended victim of a shooting in Buckhead, Atlanta.
On Monday evening, Kennedy Maxie was hit in the back of the head by a bullet as she was riding in a Lexus with her mother and aunt.
The aunt heard gunfire while driving on Peachtree Road near Phipps Plaza, but did not realize right away that Kennedy had been shot.
When she finally realized what had happened, she rushed Kennedy to Children's Healthcare at Atlanta at Scottish Rite, where she had been in critical condition until she ultimately succumbed to her injuries on Saturday.
Kennedy Maxie, 7, was injured after a bullet struck her in the back of the head on Monday. She later died from her injuries in the hospital
The shooting happened at Atlanta's Phipps Plaza, where there was an alleged argument in the parking lot. Kennedy and her family were not involved in the incident leading up to the shooting
'Our hearts are broken by the senseless murder of Kennedy,' Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
'While the Atlanta Police Department has significant leads in the apprehension of those responsible, it does not erase the pain felt when a beautiful, vibrant, and loving child is tragically taken from her family.
'We urge the public to continue to provide information that will lead to the arrests of the careless and heartless people responsible for Kennedy's death.'
The shooting stemmed out of an argument taking place between several men in the parking lot of Saks Fifth Avenue and is not believed to have involved the little girl.
Police are looking at surveillance footage from the parking lot, but have not yet made any arrests in the shooting.
Prior to Kennedy's death, a $15,000 reward was being offered for information that identified suspects in the incident.
'I thought it was unbelievable to think a 7-year-old child would be riding with a parent on Peachtree and randomly get shot,' said Attorney Jackie Patterson, who contributed $5,000 of her own towards the reward.
Pictured: An aerial shot of the Plaza where Kennedy was shot and ultimately killed
'It's a parent's worst nightmare to think their child is in the hospital during the Christmas season,' she said to FOX 5 Atlanta.
A GoFundMe started by Kennedy's godmother has raised more than $53,000 so far, which was originally set to go towards medical expenses.
Atlanta has seen a stunning rise in murders in 2020, which the Atlanta Journal-Constitution counting 155 homicides this year.
That makes it the deadliest year in terms of homicides for the city since 1998. Last year, there were just 99 murders in the city.
Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is dealing with a rise in murders this year, with the 155 recorded homicides being the most in Atlanta in 22 years
'I don't want to hear the word 'uptick.' Stop minimizing our concerns by telling us that 'crime is up everywhere,'' Councilman Howard Shook said on Tuesday about the growing concerns of violence.
'Spare us from the lie that the steady outflow of our officers isn’t as bad as it is,' Shook continued. 'And please, not another throw-away press conference utterly devoid of game-changing action steps.'
Shook followed up on Sunday, saying 'I think everyone can agree that today is a day to grieve and at this time I have nothing more to add to my prior statements.'
'If there are solutions that we have not explored and enacted, I welcome the suggestions, as I am always open to making the city that I am raising my children in a safer place for us all,' Mayor Bottoms said in response to Shook.