TAMPA, Fla. — A Tampa family is grieving and demanding justice after 16-year-old Miracle Cromwell was shot and killed early Thursday morning on North 12th Street.
Watch Jada Williams' full report:
Tampa Police responded to the 8200 block of North 12th Street shortly after 2 a.m. and found the 16-year-old deceased inside a house. Police say early investigations indicate the shooter knew the victim.
Family members on scene confirmed to Tampa Bay 28 reporter Jada Williams that the victim is Miracle Cromwell.
Lorenzo Murray, Cromwell's uncle, drove from Gainesville after receiving the devastating call around 3 a.m.
"Unfortunately, this morning, around 3 a.m. I got the call that I was never expecting, cut her life so short, and it's really terrible," Murray said.
Murray described his niece as an athletic and outgoing teenager with plans for her future.
"Miracle was a good girl, very athletic. She was really a good person, genuinely, she was very strong and outgoing. I'd spoken to her right before Christmas, she was telling me that she wanted to go back to school and do some things for her future, and I was so proud of her," Murray said.
The shooting has taken a toll on both the family and the community, Murray said.
"It's taken a toll on the family. It's taken a toll on the society, the community, and hopefully something would happen to keep this type of behavior not happening anymore to anybody and I just feel bad, and I hope someone can do something to intervene in this area," Murray said.
Murray expressed concerns about ongoing crime in the neighborhood, saying he had heard about previous incidents at the same house where his niece was killed.
"I hear that it was some prior incidents happening at this house, and I can't see how come the officials allow this house to continue after several incidents happening, I would like, if it's any way possible, to reach out to any of the city officials to, you know, kind of do some research in this neighborhood and see if we can get things resolved and stop the crime in the neighborhood. I feel really terrible that my 16 year old niece's life was taken for a senseless act," Murray said.
Tampa Bay 28 has requested more information about calls for service to the area over the past few years. We are awaiting that information.
Meantime, the family is calling for increased police presence in the area and intervention to address the root causes of crime in the community.
Tampa Police have not yet named a suspect in the case.
Anyone with information about the shooting should call Tampa Police at 813-231-6130.
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