On the last day of 2025, a trip to a Saginaw, Michigan, gas station turned fatal for 19-year-old Kendall Berrington and her unborn son. Berrington, who was just days away from her due date, was inside the Marathon gas station on Court Street in the early morning hours of December 31st when she was struck by a bullet and killed. At the time of her death, she was expecting a baby boy she planned to name Roman.
The incident unfolded when a suspect entered the gas station and began shooting
at another individual. Berrington, an innocent bystander who had reportedly stopped to buy a soda, was caught in the crossfire. A 22-year-old man who was with her was also shot and critically injured. The tragic event cut short a life filled with anticipation and joy, as Berrington was eagerly awaiting the birth of her first child.
In the days following the shooting, the Saginaw community mourned the loss of the young mother-to-be. Described by her family as a vibrant and beloved individual who was always smiling, her sudden death left a void in the lives of her loved ones. The investigation into her death quickly became a priority for the Saginaw Police Department and the Michigan State Police Major Case Unit.
The investigation led to a significant development on January 13, 2026, when 17-year-old Korvareaon Smith turned himself in to the authorities, accompanied by a parent. He was subsequently taken into custody and housed at the Saginaw County Juvenile Detention Center. The Saginaw County Prosecutor's Office charged Smith with open murder for the death of Kendall Berrington and a charge of homicide for the willful killing of her unborn child. He also faced charges of assault with intent to murder for the shooting of the second victim and felony firearm offenses. Despite his age, the serious nature of the charges and his prior juvenile record, which included violations such as tampering with a probation tether, led to him being held without bond. The prosecution asserted that Smith initiated the violence that tragically ended two lives before one had a chance to begin.
