Chicago: The family of a South Side mother killed in a June shooting is pleading for justice and assistance with raising the eight children that her death left behind.
The 36-year-old, Fredrica Coleman, gunned down outside her Englewood home at 65th and South Marshfield Ave. on Father’s Day.
Her cousin Rufus Carter says she was coming home from the grocery store when a stray bullet hit her in the head.
Moreover, Carter mentioned in the statement, “They heard 11-to-16 shots go off, and she was hit. Those kids are traumatized. The last thing they saw was their mom being rushed off on a gurney.”
Some witnesses reported about two cars of individuals waving guns outside their windows, but detectives with the Chicago Police Department have only released details about a white Malibu and black Impala that were seen fleeing away from the area after the incident took place.
It is still not clear if they were directly involved.
Along with this, Carter says Coleman was another innocent victim of gun violence in Chicago.
“You tore a whole family apart, and you’re going on about your day, and you took a mom away from her eight kids,” Carter stated.
Carter highlighted Coleman’s sister is now left to take care of 12 young ones in the wake of the shooting. The family members have since begun a GoFundMe campaign for support.
“She’s going to need some support with counselling as well as housing because now her house… there are 12 people in her house,” Carter said.
Sister Carter plans to purchase a bigger home to house all 12 kids. According to Carter, she also outlined that she wanted to raise the kids in a “safer environment.”
“She’s doing the best she can for those babies. They’re asking for their mom,” said Carter. “The little ones don’t understand what’s happening, but they know their mom isn’t coming back.”
