In the early morning hours of December 4, 2022, the life of 22-year-old Ikiyonna Goans, a Black female from Pontiac, Michigan, was tragically cut short. Her body was discovered lying on a sidewalk in front of a house in the 300 block of West Columbia Avenue. The Oakland County Sheriff's Office responded to a 911 call reporting gunshots in the area around 4:30 a.m. Upon their arrival, deputies found Ms. Goans, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
The cause of her death was determined to be a gunshot wound, and the case was subsequently ruled a homicide.
The investigation into Ikiyonna's death has been ongoing, but as of now, no arrests have been made, and a suspect has not been publicly identified. Her family, including her mother, Martha Goans, and her father, have made emotional public pleas for anyone with information to come forward and speak with authorities. They believe someone must know something about the circumstances that led to her death. The family shared that Ikiyonna was at her mother's house on the night she was killed and that something or someone may have lured her outside.
In the wake of her death, family and friends gathered for a candlelight vigil to honor Ikiyonna's memory. Those who knew her spoke of a young woman who was working to overcome mental health challenges and had aspirations of becoming a teacher. The community has rallied around the grieving family, offering support and echoing their calls for justice. The Oakland County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the homicide and encourages anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.
