Do you know who murdered Isjanna James? In the early hours of February 26, 2007, at approximately 2:30 a.m., a sense of security was shattered in an Oklahoma City home. While the family slept, two gunshots were fired into the residence located on the 4200 block of NE 16th. Inside, 8-month-old Isjanna McKay James was grievously wounded, struck by a bullet in the head. The projectile entered the top of her head and exited through her cheek and jaw area.
Her mother was also present in the house at the time of the shooting.
Isjanna was rushed to the hospital, where the extent of her devastating injuries was revealed. Despite the grim prognosis, she miraculously survived the initial attack. For the next decade, Isjanna lived with the severe consequences of the shooting. She spent several years in a children's assisted living center before returning home to be cared for by her grandmother. As a result of her injuries, she used a wheelchair. Those who knew her described her as a bubbly baby who was adored by her family and who developed a love for music, especially classical music, during her life.
Tragically, the injuries Isjanna sustained as an infant ultimately led to her death on April 29, 2017, at the age of 10. The area where the shooting occurred was known for drug activity, but not for violent crime. To date, there have been no arrests made in connection with the drive-by shooting that claimed Isjanna's life, and there are no known suspects. The case remains an unsolved homicide, and authorities continue to seek information from the public.
