DETROIT (WXYZ) — The family of a Detroit woman shot and killed outside an east-side liquor store is asking the public to pray — not just for themselves, but for the teenage suspect accused of killing her.
Watch Randy Wimbley's video report:
Faith Williams, 57, was gunned down outside a store near Nottingham and Warren on Detroit's east side late Friday night. Her niece, Katriana Cowan, was critically injured in the shooting. Police say a 15-year-old suspect turned himself in Saturday morning. Investigators say he did not know his victims and the shooting appears to have been random.
Williams' sister, Lucinda Pearson, spoke at Detroit police headquarters alongside other family members.
"We also ask that you pray for the young man who did this, because we never know what some people's mind... and although it's tragic, if God forgives us, who are we not to forgive him?" Pearson said.
Pearson also asked for continued support for Cowan, who remains hospitalized.
"Keep my niece that's in the hospital up in prayer, because we all need your support," Pearson said.
The victims are related to a Detroit Police sergeant. Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison says the teen had no prior police contact but that it is clear he fell through the cracks.
"So I challenge the community, I challenge that if you know a kid—in your family, your niece, your nephew—it's your responsibility to make us aware, and your responsibility to get them connected, to get them out of their room. If you haven't seen them, check on them." Bettison said.
Surveillance video captured the shooting. Neighborhood resident Chrystal Wright says the liquor store's owner told her it appeared the shooting was random.
"He told us about, you know, them watching the cameras, and they said that he was going to shoot someone. He was looking around in the store for someone to shoot. Wow. It could have been anyone? It could have been anyone. It could have been anyone." Wright said.
Wright says her past encounters with the teenage suspect left her unsettled.
"Immediately coming into contact, walking past, you can see the look in his eyes that he is not there. Something is not right with that baby. It wasn't right with him. Again, it's not an excuse, but if he didn't have the parental guidance that he needed, if he didn't have anyone to get him the help that he needed, how would he?" Wright said.
While police would not confirm it, multiple sources tell me the teen is mentally unstable — losing his aunt when he was 9 years old and his mother when he was 12.
A makeshift memorial now sits inside the store. A GoFundMe has been set up to benefit the families of Williams and Cowan and can be found here.
The teen suspect remains in custody. Detroit police say they expect charges to be filed by the end of the week.
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