DUBLIN, Ga. — One Dublin family is still looking for closure after a 16-year-old girl was killed last September on Woodland Street.
Shamiruna Coney was on her way to school when she stopped by a house to see 20-year-old Latavius Walker. She was in an "on-again, off-again" relationship with Walker, according to the GBI.
At the time, Walker said he mistook her for an intruder and shot her in the back.
Shamiruna's mom, Kaneshia Coney, said she wants her daughter to be remembered as much more than how she died.
"She was a — an outgoing person. Like she's fun, she's enjoyable. She loves family. That's her biggest thing," Coney said.
She said Shamiruna was her oldest daughter and the one who made everyone around her laugh.
"I got pregnant with her when I was 15. And I had her when I was 16, so we grew up together," Coney said.
Because of the shooting in September, there are so many moments she won't ever get to share with her firstborn baby.
"There's a lot of things, like he took from me like, even he took Shamiruna from me but I won't be able to like have grandkids soon. I won't be able to watch her graduate," Coney said.
After high school graduation, Shamiruna had big plans for her future and wanted to go study at Savannah State University.
"Her dream was, to graduate and move to Houston, Texas because she wanted to open up her own beauty shop," Coney said.
She said her daughter loved life and couldn't wait for her birthday. Her family still celebrated her birthday last year, but it wasn't the same without her.
Coney said it's important to her family that they keep her memory alive as much as they can.
"December, the twenty-first, we will be doing a toys drive in honor of her. Because she got this soft spot for homeless people and children that don't get much for Christmas. That's her favorite holiday- Christmas," Coney said.
She said she won't feel justice for her daughter until the case goes to trial, and she gets to ask Walker why he had to shoot her daughter.
"I don't hate him. Because you know, the God in me will not let me do that. I do hate what he done," Coney said.
According to the GBI, Walker was originally charged with two counts of aggravated assault, one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and one count of felony murder.
This case has not gone to trial yet.
MORE THAN A NUMBER:
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