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Family members remember murdered 7-year-old girl

Posted at 10:20 PM, Jan 01, 2016
and last updated 2016-01-01 22:20:41-05

Detroit police still need more evidence to charge two people with the murder of a young girl.

Meanwhile, her family held candlelight vigil tonight.

There was so much outrage, as a family will be forced to bury a little girl on her 8th birthday. Even worse, no one has been charged with the crime.

Standing shoulder to shoulder at a candlelight vigil, the community is calling for justice.

The gathering came on the heels of tragic gun violence that killed 7-year-old Chanell Berry.

Her mother, Kiana Johnson, also acknowledged an 8-year-old friend of Chanell's who was in the home and hit by bullets the same night Chanell was killed - a friend who is recovering in the hospital.

The two mother's share in similar pain from a senseless crime, believed to be out of jealousy.

Tonight's vigil was done here on Steel Street - the same location of the December 27th shooting.

Chanell was ready to turn 8-years-old next Monday. Instead her family plans to hold her burial that day.

Family members feel they have been denied justice so far, after learning 23-year-old Sharonda Benson and another man were both released by police - the suspects let go due to a lack of evidence, according to prosecutors.

It’s shocking to family members who say Benson made good on threats, when she gunned down the kids as they played with Christmas gifts.

Family members already have a GoFundMe page for Chanell's funeral expenses. So far they've raised more than $5,500.