MILWAUKEE — Parents of the one-year-old girl who was shot and killed on Saturday are sharing the moments leading up to the tragedy.
Zy'aire Nevels would have been two years old this Saturday but instead of celebrating, her family is planning a funeral.
Police say the one-year-old was shot and killed in a car Saturday after a fight escalated between two adults.
Her parents, mother Zhane Brown and father Montrell Nevels, say there was no fight that night but they were being followed by a car as they were driving.
“When we started going faster, they started going faster, when we went around cars, they went around cars so by now we know for a fact they’re following us,” recalled Brown.
Brown says that same car began firing shots at them on Atkinson causing them to crash.
She turned to check on her kids and saw Zy'aire was hit.
“I went to the other side and opened the door and I instantly started screaming and crying.”
They took the toddler to a nearby fire station where first responders rushed her to the hospital.
A 27-year-old man has been arrested in Zy'aire's death though no formal charges have been filed yet.
Brown admits she knew the alleged shooter but didn't share what could've led up to the gunfire.
Mariam Mackar asked them if there was any peace in knowing someone has been arrested in this case.
“No. Not really,” said Brown. “At the end of the day, you being behind bars is not going to bring our child back.”
Now, both parents are remembering their little girl for her resilience.
“Because that was her,” said Nevels. “That was our fighter. She'd fall down, get back up, and keep going.”
Zy’Aire’s parents have started aGoFundMe to raise money for funeral costs.
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