Loved ones are mourning the death of a 13-year-old North Carolina girl who was fatally shot just days before Christmas, as police announced the arrests of three teenagers.
The girl, identified by family as Jaleeyah Tune, was shot and killed around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 21, in Goldsboro, local police said, per ABC 11, Fox affiliate WGHP and Spectrum News.
Jaleeyah’s sister told ABC 11 that they were walking home when a group of boys they didn’t know suddenly opened fire from behind a bush.
“I held her in her last moments,” J’Sheeyah Tune said, per the outlet. “She didn’t deserve this at all. People are very cruel. Now, I have to live on without my sister.”
Police said Jaleeyah was pronounced dead at the scene. Three teenage suspects — two 16-year-old boys and a 15-year-old boy — have since been arrested and charged with first-degree murder and felony conspiracy, all three outlets reported, citing police.
Authorities have not released the suspects’ names due to their ages. WGHP reported they are being held at the Pitt Juvenile Detention Center in Greenville.
In a GoFundMe campaign, loved ones described Jaleeyah as a “fighter from the very beginning,” noting she was born prematurely at just 2 lbs.
“She came home from the hospital on Christmas Eve, a true miracle for her family, and continued to show incredible strength and resilience throughout her life,” the fundraiser says. “Jaleeyah was known for her infectious laughter and her ability to bring joy to everyone around her, no matter what challenges she faced.”
As of Dec. 25, the GoFundMe campaign had raised nearly $12,000 to help cover memorial expenses.
