In the winter of 2014, just three days before Christmas, the life of 23-year-old Kendra Nicole Hill was tragically cut short on a street in Buffalo, New York. A hardworking single mother to a two-year-old boy, she was a graduate of East High School and was employed as a nurse's aide, dedicating her free time to her son.
On the evening of December 22, 2014, Kendra had driven her boyfriend to Manhattan Avenue. It was there that shots rang out in the cold night air.
According to a relative, her boyfriend exited the vehicle and urged her to run, but she was struck by the gunfire. Kendra did not survive her injuries, becoming one of a dozen homicide victims in the city that month alone.
The aftermath of Kendra's death was marked by grief and a plea for peace within the community. Her funeral, held at the Trinity Baptist Church, was a somber affair that was unfortunately disrupted by a chaotic situation. The father of Kendra's child, who was reportedly the intended target of the shooting, made an appearance, causing an uproar among the mourners. The tension escalated to the point that Buffalo police were called to the scene to restore order. The man was quickly escorted from the church and into a police vehicle.
In the days and weeks that followed, Kendra Hill became a symbol for those in Buffalo calling for an end to the senseless violence that plagued their streets. Vigils were held, and community members spoke out against the ongoing bloodshed that was claiming the lives of so many young people. Despite the public outcry and the initial police investigation, no arrests have ever been publicly announced in connection with Kendra's murder. As of early 2015, her case was officially listed as still under investigation by the Buffalo Police Department. There has been no further public information regarding any suspects or developments in the case.
