An 18-year-old recent high school graduate was fatally shot inside of her car in Akron, Ohio, on Sunday.
What We Know:
- News 5 Cleveland reports that the young lady, identified by the Summit County Medical Examiner’s office as Na’Kia Crawford, sustained multiple gunshot wounds. There is now a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and indictment in the young woman’s case.
- Officers found Crawford after 1 p.m. when responding to a call about a shooting. Recent reports say that the teen was running errands with her grandmother when the two stopped at a red light and a newer model black sedan, resembling a Chevrolet Camaro, stopped behind her before pulling up alongside her. The unknown suspects fired multiple rounds in the car, hitting Crawford.
- Crawford’s grandmother was not injured during the shooting.
- Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan released a statement on Crawford’s murder saying, “Na’Kia Crawford was a young woman who deserved a life and a future. She was a recent high school graduate, preparing to start the next chapter of her story at Central State University. Her senseless murder is devastating, not only to her family and friends, but to the entire Akron community. I spoke with Na’Kia’s father and uncle, who I know, early this morning, and my heart truly goes out to all Na’Kia’s loved ones in this time of incredible grief and pain. These events are extremely real and important to me and to the Akron Police detectives investigating Na’Kia’s death.”
- Horrigan said: “I feel that it is essential to say clearly and loudly: Black lives matter. Na’Kia Crawford’s life mattered.”
- Crawford’s family remembers her as a beautiful young woman, both inside and out, who had a kind heart, was soft spoken and was focused on her education. They are calling for justice and urging anyone with information to come forward.
- Crawford’s family has started an online fundraiser for a scholarship in her name. The GoFundMe for the Na’Kia Crawford Memorial Scholarship Fund has raised over $17,000 of the $30,000 goal as of Thursday evening.
- Crawford’s family said she was excited to attend Central State University in the fall on an academic scholarship. The school released this statement Tuesday:
Central State University is deeply saddened by the murder of Na’kia Crawford.
Na’kia, who had committed to attend Central State in the fall to study Computer Science, possessed the intelligence and promise that any university would have eagerly welcomed among its student body. Sadly, this tragedy has robbed the world of seeing what Na’kia could have achieved at Central and in life.
The entire Central State University Community mourns her loss and sends our deepest condolences to her family and friends.
Central State University
We pray the person who did this to Na’Kia Crawford is brought to justice.
