A late-night trip for a simple summer treat ended in tragedy when a Missouri mother of five was fatally shot outside a Ferguson gas station while two of her young children were with her.
Shakeela Martin, 35, was caught in gunfire that erupted after an altercation outside the business, leaving her family devastated and her children facing life without their mother.
Martin stopped at a BP gas station near South Florissant and Woodstock roads shortly before midnight to buy slushies for her children, according to police and family members.
Investigators said a confrontation that began inside the convenience store moved outside and escalated into gunfire.
Authorities believe Martin was not involved in the dispute and was an innocent bystander.
Ferguson Police Chief Troy Doyle said Martin was simply trying to purchase drinks for her children when the shooting occurred.
“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,” Doyle said, according to LifeZette.
Family members said Martin’s children witnessed the shooting and that she never had a chance to return to her vehicle.
Relatives described her as a loving mother who centered her life around her children. Martin leaves behind five children, ages 3, 4, 9, 11, and 15, according to KSDK.
The loss came just as Martin and her children were preparing for a major life change.
Relatives said she was scheduled to move her family into a new home the following day and had taken her children out for slushies as a way to celebrate before the move, Metro East Star reported.
A GoFundMe campaign organized by family members described her as “a devoted mother to five beautiful children who were the center of her world.”
The fundraiser said Martin did not have life insurance and that donations would help cover funeral expenses and provide support for her children.
“Our hearts are shattered as we mourn the unimaginable loss of our beloved Shakeela Martin,” the fundraiser stated.
Community members have responded by donating money, clothing, and other necessities for the children.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the fundraiser has brought in over $41,000.
Family members struggled to describe the sudden loss.
Martin’s cousin Whittley Anderson said the tragedy was overwhelming.
“It’s breathtaking. It’s absolutely shocking. It just shook me like an earthquake,” Anderson said. Another relative described Martin as “a sweet mom, a sweet daughter and a wonderful sister.”
Martin’s relatives said they are grateful for the support shown by strangers and community organizations while they care for her children.
At a donation drive held at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in Ferguson, residents provided clothing and other supplies to help the family through the difficult days ahead, FOX 2 News reported.
Police continue to investigate the shooting and are searching for the person responsible.
An adult man was also struck by gunfire and remained hospitalized in critical condition, though investigators have not said whether he was connected to the original confrontation or was another victim.
Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact Ferguson police or Crime Stoppers.
The investigation remains ongoing as Martin’s family mourns a loss they say should never have happened.
A routine stop for drinks with her children became a devastating reminder of how quickly violence can change lives.
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