A pregnant woman and her young daughter who were found shot to death in a car last week were mourned Sunday in Maryland by family and friends, according to multiple reports.
Shiand Miller, 23, and her 3-year-old daughter Shaniya Gilmore were found dead inside a vehicle in the city’s Westgate neighborhood in southwest Baltimore around 12 a.m. on June 19.
Devon Sample, 24, Miller’s boyfriend and the father of her unborn child, was arrested in connection to the homicide, police said.
Sample was arrested shortly after the bodies were found and has been charged with 16 counts, including first-degree murder. He is currently at Central Booking waiting to see a court commissioner.
“I needed her,” Gilmore’s grandmother told FOX5 at Sunday’s vigil.
“I changed my life for her,” she said. “You all took so much from me taking her away. I could barely brush my teeth this morning. All I see is her on my toilet saying grandma I got to rinse my mouth too.”
A GoFundMe fundraiser page was set up by family members to raise money to cover funeral expenses.
“News just broke that my sister Shiand Miller and my niece Shaniya were tragically murdered,” Miller’s brother Eric Jenkins wrote on the page. “My family is grieving right now as we search for answers,” he added.
Jenkins said Miller was eight months pregnant and Gilmore would have turned four in October. “This senseless violence needs to stop,” he added.
Police Commissioner Michael Harrison released a statement following the family tragedy and arrest of Sample:
“This is a tragic situation where family and friends are left suffering and mourning over the loss of loved ones. I want to commend the hard work of our dedicated Homicide detectives for quickly apprehending the suspect for this despicable act of violence. I can only pray that family and friends of the victims and our city can begin the healing process.”
Gilmore’s grandmother said she is mourning the loss of three family members and hopes this tragedy and pain is a wake-up call for others.
Detectives said the case is still an active investigation and have not released a possible motive at this time.
Gilmore’s great grandfather told CBS Baltimore the young couple didn’t get along very well and frequently argued.