Heartbroken parents of Makiyah Wilson speak out about the loss of their 10-year-old daughter
WASHINGTON - The parents of Makiyah Wilson have spoken out publicly for the first time after their 10-year-old daughter was gunned down outside of her home in Northeast D.C. two days ago.
On Wednesday evening, Donnetta Wilson spoke to a large crowd at the scene where her daughter was killed and four others were wounded. She said Makiyah had just left a nearby pool and was walking to a truck when four suspects got out of a car and opened fire in a courtyard on 53rd Street.
The emotional mother also described her daughter as a girl who loved music, video games and spending time with her siblings.
"This happened to my baby," said Makiyah's mother. "This just hurt me so bad. It hurt me because my baby can't live and see her life. She wanted to do stuff. She wanted to do some stuff."
Donnetta Wilson also said her 18-year-old daughter was one of the four people injured in Monday's shooting.
FOX 5 has learned that after Makiyah's sister was released from the hospital, police learned that she was wanted on a parole violation in Virginia. As she was arraigned, she broke down in tears in front of the judge. The judge told Makiyah's sister that she was sorry for her loss.
Friends and family in the neighborhood also released balloons into the air as they called for justice while mourning the loss of Mikiyah.
"My baby, she is never coming back. So it's never going to be okay. Never," said Donnetta Wilson.
A memorial for the young girl continues to grow outside of her home. However, the bullet holes from the shooting can still be seen on the door and window of their apartment.
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"These cowards need to be held accountable for their actions because when you sign up for the streets, this is what happens - they come with certain rules and guidelines," said Mike D'Angelo, Makiyah's uncle. "Learn the rules and the guidelines of the streets. If you get out here, you see kids, you see parents, you see mothers out here, buck a U-turn and come back if that's what you got in your heart to do."
D'Angelo came to the neighborhood on Wednesday with a freshly-painted portrait of his niece, painted by DC-based artist Demont Pinder. The 10-year-old was about to enter the fifth grade this fall and was going to play on the school basketball team.
D.C. police said they have recovered the black Infiniti sedan that was used by the four masked gunmen in the shooting. The vehicle was found in Prince George's County Wednesday morning.
A law enforcement source told FOX 5 that the car was found on Brooks Drive in the Suitland/District Heights area.
The vehicle was located after police released surveillance video from the area of the shooting that captured the suspects getting out of the vehicle and firing into a crowd of 15 to 20 people before getting back into the car and driving away. Another surveillance camera captured the black Infiniti, which was missing its rear bumper, fleeing the scene.
Makiyah's mother said a candlelight vigil will be held in their Northeast D.C. neighborhood on Saturday at 7 p.m. The 10-year-old's funeral will take place next Wednesday.