On a cold November evening in Detroit, Michigan, the life of a young woman with a future full of promise was tragically cut short. Paris Strickland, a 24-year-old Black female who was six months pregnant, was fatally shot while sitting in her car on November 26, 2019. The incident occurred around 7:30 PM near the intersection of Fenkell Avenue and Artesian Street on the city's northwest side.
At the time of the shooting, Strickland was accompanied by a 26-year-old man who sustained injuries but ultimately survived the attack. Strickland was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds. Her unborn son, who she planned to name Montana, also did not survive.
The shooting has been described by authorities as a drive-by. An unknown vehicle reportedly pulled up alongside Strickland's car as she was stopped at a red light, and an occupant of that vehicle began firing shots into her car. It is believed that Strickland was not the intended target of the attack. Her family has expressed their belief that the tinted windows on her car may have led the shooter to mistake her for someone else. This tragedy was compounded by the fact that her family had already lost another child to gun violence earlier that same year. In the wake of her death, family and friends gathered for a vigil to remember a woman they described as having a joyful personality and who was excited about her future, which included starting a new job with General Motors.
As of late 2025, the investigation into the murder of Paris Strickland and her unborn child remains ongoing, and the case is unsolved. The Detroit Police Department has been seeking information from the public to help identify and apprehend the person or persons responsible for this senseless act of violence. Crime Stoppers has offered a cash reward of $2,500 for any information that leads to an arrest in the case. Despite the passage of time and the pleas from her grieving family for anyone with knowledge of the shooting to come forward, no arrests have been made. The community continues to mourn the loss of a young mother-to-be, a stark reminder of the devastating impact of gun violence.
