In the late summer of 2022, the life of a vibrant 19-year-old Black/African American woman, Nataja Boleware, was tragically cut short on the east side of Detroit, Michigan. On the evening of September 20th, Nataja was sitting in the driver's seat of a gray Chevrolet Equinox with a friend near the 4800 block of Lodewyck, between East Warren and Cornwall.
It was then that a Chrysler 300 with tinted windows pulled alongside their vehicle, and multiple shots were fired.
Nataja was struck by the gunfire seven times. In a desperate attempt to escape the assault, an attempt was made to drive away, but the Equinox soon crashed. Nataja succumbed to her injuries, while her friend in the car was also wounded in the attack. Her family believes she was in the area to help a friend with a situation she herself was not involved in, tragically placing her in the wrong place at the wrong time.
In the wake of this senseless act of violence, Nataja's family has been left devastated. Her mother, Earlene Griffin, a therapist who works with individuals at risk of violence, has spoken of the profound grief of losing her daughter, who she described as a loving person who enjoyed makeup, dancing, rapping, and singing. Her father, Nathaniel Boleware, has expressed his deep hurt and his desire for justice. The family, along with friends and community members, has held vigils and repeatedly canvassed the neighborhood, passing out flyers in a plea for information.
Despite these efforts and a reward of up to $6,500 offered by Crime Stoppers for information leading to an arrest, the case remains unsolved. As of late 2023, no arrests have been made, and the Detroit Police Department continues its investigation. The family has established a GoFundMe page to raise additional funds for a reward, holding onto hope that someone will come forward with the information needed to bring those responsible for Nataja Boleware's death to justice.
