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FERGUSON, Mo. (BFMG) — A 35-year-old mother of five was shot and killed by stray gunfire outside a Ferguson gas station after buying slushies for two of her children July 1st, police said.
Authorities identified the victim as Shakeela Martin, who was walking back to her car at a BP station just before midnight with her 9-year-old and 6-year-old children when she was struck and killed. Ferguson police said Martin had taken her children to the station on a hot night and was an innocent bystander caught in the gunfire.
“She was here to purchase some soft drinks for her young kids,” Ferguson Police Chief Troy Doyle said. “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.”
What Police Say Happened
Investigators said an argument broke out inside the convenience store shortly before Martin arrived. A barrage of gunfire then erupted from a nearby vehicle as Martin and her children were leaving, killing her and injuring a second person.
Police said a man at the scene was shot and survived, but remained in critical condition. Authorities said it was not yet clear whether that man was the intended target of the shooting.
A shattered glass door at the gas station was boarded up after the shooting, and bullet holes were visible along the side of the building, underscoring the intensity of the gunfire.
No arrests had been announced as of Thursday, but Ferguson police said detectives are pursuing promising leads in the case.
Victim Remembered
Friends and community members described Martin as a loving mother who radiated kindness even in difficult moments.
Renada McGhee said she met Martin at the Rally’s restaurant where McGhee worked and later connected with her on Facebook. McGhee recalled approaching Martin when she appeared to be having a bad day.
“So, we said, ‘Can we pray for you?’ and she said, ‘Sure.’ And when we prayed for her, she started crying. She said, ‘Thank you. I needed that,’” McGhee said.
A fundraiser described on GoFundMe said Martin was a devoted mother “full of love and hope for the future.” Her family had been preparing to move into a new home the day after she was killed.
“We will forever cherish Shakeela’s memory and the love she gave so freely to everyone around her,” the fundraiser reads. The online campaign was created to help cover funeral and burial expenses because Martin did not have life insurance.
Community Reacts
Residents said the shooting has deepened fears and frustration over gun violence in the area.
“I just feel like the violence needs to stop, man. That’s all I can say,” Ferguson resident Curtis Ware said. “I can’t really elaborate on too much, but I just feel like everything needs to stop.”
Another resident, Sterling Henderson, said he was especially worried about the lasting impact on Martin’s children.
“It’s sad, two young kids. You know, I heard she had five kids. So, two of the young kids who seen this, they’re going to have a hard time. They’re going to need some therapy or something,” Henderson said.
New Efforts by Police
In response to the shooting and broader safety concerns, police have installed a portable camera system in the gas station parking lot to help detect stolen vehicles and capture criminal activity in the area.
Investigators are also working to determine whether the second victim was the shooter’s intended target. That man remains in critical condition and has not yet been able to speak with detectives.
Authorities said the camera deployment is part of a larger effort to gather more leads and discourage violence at and around the station.
Pattern of Gas Station Shootings
The killing at the BP station is the sixth gas station shooting reported in the area over the past three months, highlighting what officials say is a troubling pattern.
Last Saturday, a 22-year-old man was killed inside a QuikTrip in south St. Louis, and there have been recent deadly shootings at a Phillips 66 in St. Louis and at another station in the Soulard neighborhood.
Law enforcement officials said they are examining possible connections and trends among the incidents as they work to identify suspects and prevent further violence.
