Photos: Jacksonville 7-year-old girl shot, killed by stray bullet
The mother of the 7-year-old girl killed in the crossfire of a parking lot shootout has a message for the shooters.
“I don’t know about them, but they left a deep pain in my soul. They took away the one I loved the most. I’m no one to judge them, but up there, there’s someone. God will judge them,” said Heidy Rivas-Villanueva’s mother, whose identity Action News Jax is concealing for her protection.
RELATED: Jacksonville police ask for public's help after releasing video in 7-year-old's death
RELATED: Family of 7-year-old killed in shootout grateful to JSO for hard work, protection
Heidy was hit by a stray bullet on Saturday on Jacksonville’s Westside on 103rd Street.
Monday was supposed to be Heidy’s first day of 1st grade.
Instead, family, friends and strangers have been bringing candles, bears and balloons to the parking space where she was shot.
“I told her she was my princess. She was my pride and joy,” said her mother.
On Saturday, Heidy was sitting in the car with her dad while her mom went inside the store.
That’s when JSO said Heidy was hit by stray gunfire during a shootout in the parking lot.
Jacksonville dad Anthony Walker and his daughters brought teddy bears to add to the memorial.
“That could have been us. Like, we’re always out here. We could have pulled up to get something, and that could’ve been me going in there, and one of my kids got shot in the head,” Walker said.
Heidy’s mother said she hopes there is justice for the strangers who destroyed her family’s dreams.
“I only wanted her to study in this country so she could better herself and be someone. But they took away her dream. They took away all the hopes I had for my daughter,” said Heidy’s mother.
STORY: Hot, violent weekend in Jacksonville: Eight people shot in 48 hours
JSO and Crime Stoppers ask anyone with information to call JSO at (904) 630-0500.
To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers 1-866-845 TIPS. If a tip leads to an arrest, the caller is eligible for an $11,000 reward.
Twenty-eight tips have come in to Crime Stoppers so far.