In the fading light of a Thursday evening in Glendale, Arizona, the life of a bright-spirited 7-year-old girl, Latreese 'Lay Lay' Deveann Moten, was tragically cut short. On February 17, 2022, while sitting in the backseat of her mother's car, Latreese was struck by gunfire in what police have described as a drive-by shooting. The bullets found their mark, hitting the young girl in the head and knee.
Despite the desperate efforts of doctors, her injuries proved to be fatal.
The senseless act of violence left a family and a community reeling in heartbreak and disbelief. In the days that followed, those who knew and loved Latreese gathered to celebrate her life, a life remembered for being full of energy and joy. They congregated at Grand Canal Linear Park, a place where she had last been seen happily playing, to release balloons with messages of love for the little girl who was affectionately called 'Lele' by her family. The gathering took place on what would have been her eighth birthday, turning a day of celebration into one of poignant remembrance.
In the wake of the shooting, authorities identified a suspect in the case, Terry Armstrong. The investigation into the death of Latreese Moten continued as her family was left to navigate the profound grief of losing a child to gun violence. Her mother expressed the immense pain of her loss, a sentiment echoed by a community mourning the loss of a defenseless child whose life was taken far too soon.
