Legaci Deshawn Taylor, a Black 5-year-old girl, was shot while sitting in a car with her father on the night of Friday, October 10, 2025, on the 3000 block of Nicholas Road in Dayton, Ohio. The vehicle was struck multiple times; her father—a 27-year-old—was wounded but survived with a non-life-threatening injury. Dispatch records and 911 calls reflect that the gunfire erupted as the pair were getting into their vehicle, and neighbors reported hearing a dozen or more shots.
Legaci was rushed to a hospital, where she died of her injuries. The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office publicly identified her on October 14.
In the days that followed, grief pulled the community together. A memorial drew more than a hundred mourners, and local leaders spoke out about the toll of gun violence on Dayton’s families. State Senator Willis E. Blackshear Jr. issued a statement mourning Legaci and urging action; media coverage captured a community struggling to make sense of a child’s death and to rally around her family.
Her family prepared to lay her to rest with a visitation and celebration of life at The Gateway Cathedral on Olive Road on Monday, October 20, 2025. Coverage of the arrangements echoed the shock that a child’s laughter had been silenced and noted the outpouring of support, including donations and tributes posted in her memory.
As of the most recent reports, investigators have not announced any arrests or identified suspects in the shooting that killed Legaci and injured her father. Police have asked anyone with information to come forward, emphasizing that the case remains open and that community tips could help bring answers and accountability.
