In the quiet early hours of January 19, 2023, a senseless act of violence shattered the peace of a Coolidge, Arizona neighborhood and tragically ended the life of 14-year-old Miyka Crawford. The young female was asleep in what should have been the safety of a temporary family home. Due to ongoing renovations, Miyka, her mother, and her sister had moved a bed into the living room, a decision that placed them in the direct path of danger.
Just after midnight, the house was pierced by a barrage of bullets, with more than a dozen rounds fired into the living room and bedrooms.
Miyka's mother, Tanisha Scott, was jolted awake by what she initially thought were fireworks. The horrific reality quickly set in as she discovered her daughter had been struck in the head by the gunfire. Miyka never woke up. The family had moved to Arizona from Michigan seeking a more peaceful life, only to be confronted with an unimaginable tragedy. Miyka was remembered as a bright and bubbly girl with entrepreneurial dreams of starting her own business selling natural soaps and sugar scrubs. The shooting was believed to be a targeted attack, but investigators concluded that the intended victim no longer resided at that address, making Miyka an innocent victim in a violent act meant for someone else.
In the days that followed the devastating drive-by shooting, the Coolidge Police Department, along with several other law enforcement agencies, launched an intensive investigation. Utilizing surveillance footage and tips from the community, they quickly identified the suspect vehicle, a stolen blue Kia sedan that was later found abandoned in Gilbert. Their efforts led to the swift apprehension of four individuals. The suspects were identified as 19-year-old Derrick Manual of Gilbert, a 17-year-old male from Gilbert, a 15-year-old male from Laveen, and a 14-year-old female from Casa Grande. Tragically, Miyka's family revealed they knew one of the juvenile suspects. All four were arrested and faced serious charges, including first-degree murder, drive-by shooting, and multiple counts of aggravated assault, bringing a measure of justice to a family grappling with an unbearable loss.
