15-Year-Old Girl Fatally Shot in Gary Drive-By

A 15-year-old girl was shot to death while riding in a car with her friends in Gary, Indiana Sunday.

Daja Brookshire was traveling in a vehicle heading southbound around 9:30 p.m. near 7th Avenue and Adams Street when she and two of her friends in the car noticed a vehicle had been following them for some time, according to police.

Multiple shots were soon fired at their vehicle and the driver noticed the girl was bleeding and rushed her to the hospital for treatment. She was pronounced dead at Methodist Northlake Hospital two hours later, police said.

Brookshire lived with her mother in an apartment on County Line Road miles from where the shooting occurred. She attended West Career Academy where she was a standout in track and field, even at one point competing in the Junior Olympics.

Detectives said they are questioning the other two passengers in the car, including Brookshire's boyfriend, trying to find out what they saw and if there is anything that will lead them to the shooter.

As of Monday afternoon all passengers told police they did not notice any details from the shooter of the vehicle they were riding in, according to Gary Police Sgt. Tom Decanter Jr.

“Right now we have nothing,” Sgt. Decanter Jr. told NBC Chicago. “That's why we are asking the public if they heard or seen anything to give us a call.” 

Contact Us