Families, city leaders plead for information on people who shot 3 children in Minneapolis

There was an emotional gathering Sunday morning outside Minneapolis City Hall.

“How can you do this? How can you be heartless like this?” asked longtime community activist K.G. Wilson, who is mourning the loss of his 6-year old granddaughter Aniya Allen, who was shot on Monday as her mom was driving home. “Not only do we want justice for our babies, we don’t want these people out here to shoot somebody else’s babies.”

A group of parents, activists, police and business leaders met to voice their concerns about the unthinkable: three young children, including Aniya, hit by gunfire in Minneapolis between the end of April and mid-May.

On April 30, 10-year old Ladavionne Garrett Jr. was shot by a stray bullet while sitting in the family car.

A week ago Saturday, 9-year old Trinity Ottoson-Smith was shot and severely wounded while playing on a backyard trampoline. Police believe the gunfire came from a car in a nearby alley.

Ladavionne and Trinity remain at the hospital, but Aniya died Wednesday.

“These kids are real people,” said Raishawn Smith, Trinity’s father. “Real, living breathing people that was hurt and unfortunately taken away from us, senselessly. It’s wrong. It’s wrong."

“Enough is enough with regards to the crimes we’ve been experiencing,” says Jonathan Weinhagen, president and CEO of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber. “Ladavionne, Trinity, and Aniya, victims of gunshots in our city.”

Wilson recalls the day Aniya was shot.

“The last thing I said was a prayer that none of our children in the community gets shot,” Wilson recalls. “A couple of hours later my daughter texted me, ‘Daddy, get to the hospital, they’ve shot Aniya in the head.’”

Now Wilson is pleading for anyone with information or who might have been involved to come forward.

"You did this to our babies, when I stepped on the line, the front line years ago, I was saying take me, don’t take them,” Wilson said. “I’m willing to give my life if it’s going to bring more change. I would have taken 10 bullets that they gave to our babies."

“Every parent should have the ability to send their kid outside to play without the risk of getting hit by gunfire,” Mayor Jacob Frey told reporters. “There should be no concern about jumping up and down on a trampoline without getting shot with by gunfire.”

On Sunday, the Minneapolis Regional Chamber, and Crime Stoppers announced they are establishing a $30,000 reward fund for information leading to arrests in the three cases.

From city and community leaders, the fund reflects an urgent plea for help.

“When we harm our babies, that is out of bounds. We can never allow that to happen,” Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo said. “There are those in our community who know who’s done this. Whether they’re staying in your home, your apartments, whether you’re shielding or putting away their guns for them, you are just as complicit. And we are going to come after you.”

"We will not protect killers of children,” added civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong. “People who shoot children, people who are randomly engaged in violence in our community. It is time for our paradigm shift and for our community to feel safe.”

The children’s families say there need to be institutional change as well: more officers and more accountability.

“We need more police on the street, there’s no doubt. We need police reform, there’s no doubt about it,” said Randy Ottoson, Trinity’s grandfather. “People are hearing shots down on Broadway. As we’re there on Friday night, we hear, ‘Pop, pop, pop,’ right down on Broadway. You don’t think something needs to be stepped up right now? We need people there now. I don’t want anybody else to get hurt.”

Arradondo says he has detectives working around the clock on the three cases.

He adds that anyone with information can call CrimeStoppers anonymously at 800-222-8477 or submit a tip online. All tips and information, the chief says, are confidential. Phone numbers are even electronically scrambled as they come in.

“That may mean someone saying, ‘I know Mr. K.G., he’s a good man,’” Arradondo explains. “’I know Mr. Raishawn, I know where that gun is at, I know who was driving that car,’ and they call and they let us know.”

In the meantime, the families and police hope someone comes forward.

"I’m praying for all these families,” Ottoson said. “But you know what? I’m praying for the next people, too. It continues downtown. Pick a spot. It’s got to stop."

"I don’t care about anything voluntary or material anymore,” Wilson added. “You can have it all. I just want us to have some justice. For me right now, some closure and justice."