Family grieves teen’s death
Boyfriend being detained by police in shooting case
As if things couldn’t get worse for the family of Kira Seymour, a neighbor’s 65-foot-tall tree came crashing down in front of her house Thursday evening.
No one was injured when the tree feel during a storm that blew the area.
Family members were inside of the house in the area of 13 Mile and Gratiot Avenue grieving the fatal shooting of Seymour the night before when they heard a loud sound and looked outside to see the tree on their front yard. The house was not damaged.
Millie Proper, the young girl’s mother, declined to comment as she was still trying to come to terms with the loss of her daughter.
“I just don’t feel like speaking at this time,” she said.
Seymour, 17, a senior at Roseville High School and a mother of a 6-week-old baby girl, died Wednesday after shewas shot inthe chest. The shooting happened at her boyfriend’s house in Eastpointe.
The 17-year-old boyfriend, who is also the father of Seymour’s daughter, is being held in custody. Seymour’s family described him as an “on-again, off-again boyfriend.”
Eastpointe police plan to pres
ent their case to the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office for a determination of charges. They have declined to provide more details on the incident and whether the shooting was intentional or accidental.
“I can confirm that the two had a dating relationship,” Lt. David Ernatt said in an email.
Police released limited information on the case, but said officers were dispatched to the 23000 block of Rein Avenue, in the area of Stephens Road and Gratiot Avenue, about 4 p.m. Wednesday to respond to a report of a shooting.
When first responders arrived, they “observed a female victim deceased from an apparent gunshot wound,” police said in a statement. A male was taken into custody without incident.
She reportedly was visiting her boyfriend with her 6-week-old baby. The child was found unharmed in the house. Two other of the male friend’s family members were also in the house when the shooting occurred.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the victim’s family,” police said in a Facebook post late Wednesday.
Roseville Community Schools activated its crisis team to meet and support any students or staff members who may feel the need to talk about what happened to Seymour.
“This is an extremely sad day for our Roseville Schools community,” Superintendent Mark Blaszkowski said in a statement. “To lose such a young life is devastating to us all. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.”
The victim’s mother has set up a Gofundme.comaccount to raise money for the child’s burial. As of 6 p.m. Thursday, 282 people had donated more than$12,000 to the fund.
To make a donation to the Gofundme fund, go to the siate and search Kira Seymour.
Meanwhile, Roseville Public Service Department crews responded to the area to remove the fallen tree. Department officials said gusting winds froma passing storm may have played a role in toppling the tree, which had been rotting at its base.
Crew members were using a front-end loader and other equipment to remove the tree.