A simmering feud that ignited on social media culminated in a tragic loss of young life in a Birmingham, Alabama park. Kierra’onna “Keke” Rice, a 14-year-old Black female, was fatally shot on Friday, February 27, 2015, after she went to Washington Park to settle a long-standing dispute with other girls. Described by her family as a sweet and kind-hearted high school freshman who loved fashion, Kierra’onna felt pressured to attend the pre-arranged fight after threats were allegedly made
to confront her at her home.
The confrontation, which some attendees reportedly planned to film and post online, quickly spiraled out of control. What was intended to be a fistfight between teenagers escalated dramatically. According to witness accounts, the altercation began, and in the ensuing chaos, a stun gun was used before gunshots rang out through the park. Investigators believe two older teenagers, who were present at the scene, introduced firearms into the conflict and began shooting into the crowd of fighting girls.
In the midst of the panic and scattered crowd, Kierra’onna was struck by the gunfire. Some reports indicated that in the frantic aftermath, she was also run over by a vehicle. Friends and her cousin who were present rushed to her side before she was transported to a local hospital, where she ultimately succumbed to her injuries. The senseless act of violence also left two other individuals wounded.
In the days following the shooting, the Birmingham Police Department identified and arrested two suspects in connection with the homicide. Antonio King, 17, and Jason Wade, 19, were taken into custody. Both were subsequently charged with murder, first-degree assault, and second-degree assault for their roles in the fatal park shooting. They were held in the Jefferson County Jail. Online sources available at the time of the arrests detailed the charges, but do not contain information regarding the outcomes of any subsequent trials or convictions.
