Mother of Five Fatally Shot Buying Slushies in Ferguson
A 35-year-old mother of five was fatally shot outside a BP gas station in Ferguson, Missouri, while buying slushies for her children on a hot summer night, according to police. The two children with her — ages 9 and 6 — witnessed the shooting and are receiving support as investigators search for the gunman.
The Incident
Shakeela Martin was killed just before midnight on Tuesday, June 30, at a BP gas station at the intersection of South Florissant and Woodstock roads in Ferguson, according to Fox News. She had taken two of her children to buy frozen drinks to celebrate the family’s impending move into a new home the following day.
Ferguson Police Chief Troy Doyle told First Alert 4 / KMOV that an altercation began inside the convenience store before spilling into the parking lot, where gunfire erupted from a nearby vehicle. Martin was struck as she walked back to her vehicle with her children.
“From what we gathered so far, there was an altercation that took place inside the store here,” Doyle said. “Our female victim was a totally innocent victim in this case.”
A second victim, an adult man, was also struck by gunfire and hospitalized in critical condition. Police have not confirmed whether he was involved in the altercation or was the intended target.
The Children
Martin’s two children who were with her were physically unharmed but witnessed their mother being killed. Doyle described the emotional toll on the young witnesses.
“She was here to purchase some soft drinks for her young kids,” Doyle told First Alert 4. “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.”
Martin leaves behind five children — ages 3, 4, 9, 11, and 15, according to Yahoo News / PEOPLE, which cited her cousin Whittley Anderson.
Community Response
The shooting has deeply shaken the Ferguson community. Residents expressed grief and frustration over the senseless violence.
“I just feel like the violence needs to stop, man. That’s all I can say,” Ferguson resident Curtis Ware told First Alert 4. “I just feel like everything needs to stop.”
Sterling Henderson, another Ferguson resident, expressed concern for the children who witnessed the killing. “It’s sad, two young kids. You know, I heard she had five kids. So two of the young kids who seen this, they’re going to have a hard time. They’re going to need some therapy or something,” he said.
Martin worked at a Rally’s restaurant on Page Avenue. An acquaintance, Renada McGhee, recalled meeting Martin there and praying with her. “And so we said, ‘can we pray for you?’ and she said, ‘sure.’ And when we prayed for her, she started crying. And she said, ‘Thank you, I needed that,’” McGhee told First Alert 4.
Family’s Loss
Martin’s cousin, Whittley Anderson, organized a verified GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral expenses and support the children. Anderson told Metro East Star that Martin did not have life insurance.
“It was just senseless. It’s so surreal. How can a woman go to the store, get slushies for her kids and end up dying,” Anderson told KSDK. “These kids now have to live with this until they’re old and it will never go away. It will never leave our family.”
According to the GoFundMe campaign, Martin was preparing to move her family into a new home the day after the shooting and had taken her children for slushies to celebrate what should have been a joyful family moment.
Investigation
As of July 5, police have not announced any arrests but say they have “promising leads.” The second victim remains in critical condition and has not been able to speak with investigators, which may be hindering the investigation. Police have installed a portable camera system at the gas station to detect stolen vehicles.
The shooting at the BP gas station was the sixth gas station shooting reported in the St. Louis area in the three months prior, according to First Alert 4, highlighting a broader pattern of gun violence at gas stations across the metropolitan area.
Ferguson police are asking anyone with information to contact investigators at 314-522-3100 or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS.
What’s Next
The Martin family continues to grieve and raise funds for funeral expenses while police pursue leads in the case. The two children who witnessed their mother’s killing face a long road to recovery, and community members have called for an end to the cycle of violence that has claimed yet another innocent life in the St. Louis region.