The Brief A Missouri mother of five was fatally shot while buying slushies with two of her young children outside a Ferguson gas station. Police believe 35-year-old Shakeela Martin was an innocent bystander after an altercation escalated into gunfire in the parking lot. Martin leaves behind five children, and investigators have not announced any arrests as the search for the shooter continues.



A Missouri mother of five was shot and killed while stopping for slushies with two of her young children after gunfire erupted outside a Ferguson gas station, prompting an ongoing search for the person responsible.

What we know:

Shakeela Martin, 35, was fatally wounded just before midnight Tuesday outside the BP gas station at the intersection of South Florissant and Woodstock roads. According to the Ferguson Police Department, the shooting happened after an altercation that started inside the convenience store escalated into the parking lot.

Police said Martin had taken her 9-year-old and 6-year-old children to the gas station to buy frozen drinks during the hot summer evening. As the family walked back to their vehicle, multiple shots were fired. Investigators believe Martin was not involved in the dispute and was an innocent bystander caught in the gunfire.

 She was here to purchase some soft drinks for her young kids,  Ferguson Police Chief Troy Doyle told First Alert 4.  They're physically unhurt but obviously hurt emotionally. You can only imagine what a child would go through watching their mom being murdered in front of them. 

What we don't know:

An adult man was also struck during the shooting and remains hospitalized in critical condition. Authorities have not said whether he was connected to the altercation or was the intended target.

The backstory:

Detectives said the confrontation began inside the gas station before moving outside, where the gunfire broke out. No arrests have been made, and investigators continue to work the case.

Martin leaves behind five children and relatives who say she was preparing to start a new chapter in her family's life.

What you can do:

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