On a spring evening in Minneapolis, the life of 15-year-old Marleisha Victory Davenport, a Black/African American female, was cut tragically short. On May 13, 2023, Marleisha was with six other people in a vehicle when it was targeted by gunfire. A bullet struck her in the back, inflicting a fatal wound. In the immediate aftermath, she was rushed to North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale by a private vehicle, arriving around 10 p.m.
with a life-threatening injury.
Despite the urgent efforts of medical staff, Marleisha succumbed to her injuries just 42 minutes after her arrival at the hospital. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner later confirmed that her death was a homicide caused by the single gunshot wound to her back. The shooting is believed to have occurred in north Minneapolis, where police had received reports of a shootout involving as many as 20 rounds and a possible drive-by with an automatic weapon just minutes before Marleisha appeared at the hospital.
A freshman at Two Rivers High School and one of eight siblings, Marleisha was remembered by her family as a "super sweet and loving girl" who was vibrant, intelligent, and possessed a personality that was larger than life. A GoFundMe page established for her family highlighted how she was loved from every direction and enchanted everyone she met. The Minneapolis Police Department opened a homicide investigation into the shooting, but the specific location of the incident remained unclear in the initial stages of the inquiry. As of the latest reports, no suspects have been publicly identified, and no arrests have been made in connection with her death. Authorities have urged anyone with information to come forward and contact CrimeStoppers to help bring those responsible to justice.
