Demi Galvin and Yasmeen Scott.Photo: GoFundMe (2)
Update: In a statement to PEOPLE on Friday, Niles Public Safety Director Jim Millin said authorities believe Tuesday’s shooting “is believed to be retaliation between two groups” stemming from two recent killings: the Aug. 16 fatal shooting of Farries Maxwell, 36, and the Sept. 8 fatal shooting of Ra’Quon Glenn, 26.
“Incidents such as this are obviously devastating for the families involved, but affect the entire community,” Millin wrote.
On Tuesday at about 11:37 p.m., a group of people approached a Niles home on 6th Avenue and began firing at the house where teens were gathered, say police, theSouth Bend Tribunereports.
“I heard a bunch of shots, at least 40, but they were happening so quickly that some overlaid others so it was impossible to count them,” one resident toldABC57.
Two teenage girls – Demi Galvin, 15, and Yasmeen Scott, 18 – were pronounced dead at the scene,Mlive.comreports.
Three teenage boys were rushed to the hospital. No information on their conditions is available.
No arrests have been made as police continue to investigate.
Police say they believe the shooting is related to two recent slayings in the area,ABC 57reports.
Farries Maxwell, 36, was fatally shot on N. 7th Street on Aug. 16., according to theSouth Bend Tribune.
On Sept. 8, Ra’Quon Glenn, 26, was fatally shot on N. 6th St., theSouth Bend Tribunereports.
Shortly after, residents on 5th and 6th streets called police about hearing gunshots fired, according to theSouth Bend Tribune.
No one was injured but police found more than 30 shell casings in the area.
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Officials are denouncing the violence.
“The City of Niles has experienced tragic incidents of gun violence in recent weeks,” Niles Mayor Nick Shelton said in a statement.
“These acts cause devastation to all involved and impact the lives of each and every Niles resident. Upon investigation, it appears that these incidents of gun violence are related to each other and, in most cases, several witnesses to the events have been identified.”
As police continue to search for the shooters, the families of the slain teens are mourning their deaths.
Miller added, “At just 15 years old, she had her whole life ahead of her. She was so close to finishing up her high school credits and she just had the purest heart out of anyone I’ve ever known.”
Their mother, she wrote, “wanted to move the family out of our previous city to better our lives. We never excepted something like this to happen. Our hearts are completely shattered.”
Niles Police did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
source: people.com
