Family, community seek justice 1 year after 19-year-old’s death
WRENS, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - This week will mark one year since a 19-year-old was shot and killed in her home in Wrens.
Over the weekend, the community came together to celebrate the life of Khia Shield.
Her mother spoke about the outpouring of , including the mayor and Wrens police chief, who were there.
Shareka Pitts, Shields’ mother, said, “It means a whole lot. One call that’s all - come out and speak.”
The police chief is still asking for the community’s help when it comes to violence in the city.
You can call the police or the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and remain anonymous.
Someone shot and killed Khia Shields less than two weeks after her 19th birthday on Aug. 26, 2023.
EARLIER NEWS 12 COVERAGE:
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The GBI says she was inside her house when shots were fired from outside. They aren’t sure if the suspect was on foot or in a car.
She came into her mom’s room and said she’d been shot in the chest.
It’s news a family never wants to hear.
Now, one year later, her family is still looking for answers and so are the police.
It all happened on a street known for being quiet. But the one thing the family and friends of Sheilds aren’t quiet about is advocating for justice.
The pain hurts just as badly as if it were yesterday.
“It still hurts. It still hurts knowing that I have to get up every day and not see her and not talk to her. It’s still it’s still a part. Painful memory is still painful to this day,” said Pitts.
There are still so many unanswered questions.
“It’s heartbreaking and it’s disappointing that someone you know took her life at an early age. She was 19. She had so much to live for,” said Pitts.
Her family, friends and law enforcement have been looking for answers through events and even offering a reward of $13,000.
“She was going to complete college and become a PE teacher. She has so many dreams and it was just taken away from her for no reason at all,” said Pitts.
Every day that es, she holds onto hope and pleads for people to put the guns down.
“Just put the guns down. We’re losing our kids. We’re losing our children left and right now to gun violence,” said Pitts.
Law enforcement says they are constantly conducting interviews about that night and refuse to let the case go cold.
They say they just ed her for the one-year anniversary and didn’t plan on the second to without an arrest.
“When we get justice, after we get justice, I’m still gonna lift her up. I’m still gonna celebrate her, you know I wish this on no one. This is a hard pill to swallow, you know, burying your own child,” said Pitts.
Pitts says she plans on opening a scholarship in Sheilds’ name in the near future.
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