A family of 3 was shot at while they were asleep in their Gill Street home in the early hours of Sunday morning. Fortunately they all survived but the couple's 3 year old baby is in a critical condition at the KHMH tonight.
Baby Etana was shot to the head, and her parents 30 year old Roy Bennett also known as "Talla" and 28 year old Alva Moody are praying that they will get to see their child healthy again.
It is another case where the innocent got caught in the middle of ongoing gang warfare. Roy Bennett is part of the Felix family - and has already lost two brothers and a sister to violence. In fact, his sister was killed 5 years ago on the same bed where his daughter and common law were shot on Sunday morning.
Courtney Weatherburne has more details on this shooting as well as the history of violence and loss that plagues Bennett and his family.
Courtney Weatherburne reporting
The corroded zinc fence almost completely conceals this Gill Street home.
But no fence can truly guard and protect this family from gunmen out for blood.
And this house has seen its share of blood.
In 2013, 22 year old Feeshia Felix was shot and killed inside this house while she was asleep.
Early Sunday morning, 5 years later, Felix's brother, Roy Bennett, his common-law wife, Alva Moody and their 3 year old baby girl Etana were asleep in that same room when a gunman crept up and opened fired on the house.
Sharon Faber, Moody's Mother
"She, the baby and the boy the sleep, three of them when they shot them up, just like that the little girl was sleeping in the bed and the same room the little girl died is the same room they get shot up."
Fortunately Sunday morning's shooting wasn't fatal. Moody was shot 4 times. She was struck to the hands, buttocks and leg. She has been discharged from the hospital. Bennett wasn't injured but baby Etana was hit to the temple. She is in a critical condition at the hospital. It was overwhelming for Faber to see her grandchild fighting to stay alive.
Sharon Faber, Moody's Mother
"Miss I cry, I cry because they don't have any sense to do those things, a poor baby that is 3 years old."
And it seems the shooters have no sense of remorse when it comes to Bennett and his family. They have endured great loss. Apart from Bennett's sister, his two brothers Tyrone and Ryan Felix were also shot and killed in 2006 and 2007 respectively. Bennett's mother, Therese died of asthma in 2008. Bennett was also shot at in January 2008 and in December 2013. So did the shooter or shooters return to the family house to finish the job ? It is a frightening thought but Faber says she has no idea what is behind this shooting.
Sharon Faber, Moody's Mother
"I don't know, I don't know what went on. Only God knows what went on, I don't know what went on in that, you know, to let them go back to the same place and shot up the same time too, same same time, they ridiculous like they no have family too."
But all Faber wants is for her grandbaby to recover - at least that will restore some peace and joy in the family - one that has witnessed so much violence and bloodshed.
Sharon Faber, Moody's Mother
"All that I want is for God to uplift my granddaughter she is so sweet and nice and smart, smart little girl and I want God make my granddaughter better so she could come back right here."
Residents say that this shooting may be a spin off from last week's murder of 34 year old stevedore Raymond Arnold.
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