A Missouri mother of five was fatally shot outside a Ferguson gas station while purchasing frozen drinks with two of her young children, according to police.
Shakeela Martin, 35, died Tuesday night after gunfire erupted outside a BP gas station at South Florissant and Woodstock roads. Investigators believe Martin was an innocent bystander hit by bullets as she returned to her vehicle with her 9-year-old and 6-year-old children. The children were unharmed physically but were deeply affected by the incident.
"She was here to purchase some soft drinks for her young kids," Ferguson Police Chief Troy Doyle stated. "They’re physically unhurt but obviously hurt emotionally. You can only imagine what a child would go through watching their mom being murdered in front of them."
A second victim, an adult man, was also shot and remains in critical condition. Police have not confirmed his involvement in the altercation that preceded the shooting.
The confrontation reportedly began inside the gas station and moved to the parking lot, where multiple shots were fired. The Ferguson Police Department is actively searching for the gunman and has not announced any arrests.
Martin was preparing to move her family into a new home the day after she was killed, according to a GoFundMe campaign organized by her family. The fundraiser aims to cover funeral and burial expenses and provide for her five children.
The campaign described Martin as "a devoted mother to five beautiful children who were the center of her world" and noted she did not have life insurance. The organizers stated, "We will forever cherish Shakeela’s memory and the love she gave so freely to everyone around her."
Anyone with information regarding the shooting is urged to contact the Ferguson Police Department at 314-522-3100 or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS.