In the winter of 2019, a tragedy struck the city of Syracuse, New York, with the untimely death of 14-year-old Mya Killeen. On the afternoon of January 22nd, the young female was inside an apartment on Ballantyne Road when she sustained a fatal gunshot wound. First responders rushed her to Upstate University Hospital in critical condition, but she succumbed to her injuries.
Her date of death has been reported as both January 22 and January 23, 2019.
The investigation into Mya's death quickly led to an arrest. A 13-year-old boy, whose identity was withheld due to his age, was taken into custody. He was subsequently charged with second-degree manslaughter and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. The narrative that emerged from the suspect's side, as presented by his lawyer, was that the shooting was a tragic accident. Despite this claim, the Syracuse Police Department continued to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident.
The loss of Mya Killeen sent ripples of grief and shock throughout the Syracuse community. In the wake of her death, community members and organizations, including the founder of the local non-violence group OG's Against Violence, called for support for Mya's grieving family. The case drew significant media attention, highlighting the devastating impact of gun violence on young lives and prompting conversations about youth and safety in the city.
