Tips from the public helped the Kent Police identify and find a vehicle thought to be involved in the April 16 shooting death of a 1-year-old baby girl.
Malijah Grant was shot in the head while riding in a carseat in the backseat of her parents car, with her mother driving and her father in the front passenger seat. She died two days later at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Grant lived in Kent with her parents.
The baby was in a silver Chevrolet Impala, which was hit at the intersection of Lake Fenwick Road and Reith Road the afternoon of April 16. A black car pulled alongside the silver car near the Lake Fenwick Estates apartments, and the driver and passenger in the black vehicle opened fire before driving off.
The shooters remain at large and police didn’t release any information about them after finding the car.
“I have had multiple (media) inquiries related to suspects,” Kent Police spokeswoman Melanie Robinson said in a Tuesday email. “I can say there are no suspects in custody at this time for the baby Malijah homicide.”
Police also are keeping quiet about any specific details about the car of the shooting suspects.
“I have had numerous inquiries requesting the location of where the vehicles were located,” Robinson said. “However, investigators have not released that information, nor have they released the make/model of the suspect vehicle.”
Robinson said detectives don’t want all of those details made public yet.
“Please understand that investigators are withholding critical information in an effort to not jeopardize any aspect of the investigation,” she said. “I can only provide as much information as my administration/investigators allow.”
Kent Police Chief Ken Thomas has said the shooting death of Grant is gang related and that the investigation has determined anywhere from 12 to 15 shootings between mid-March and the shooting of the baby have taken place between rival gangs in Seattle, Tacoma and cities in between. Police have not said why the Grant’s car might have been targeted. The father of the baby girl has denied any gang connections.
At a press conference on May 4, investigators released the still images of two vehicles observed fleeing from the actual crime scene; one of which is believed to be the suspect vehicle that was caught on nearby surveillance, as well as a photo of a vehicle of interest that was initially thought to be a vehicle stolen out of Renton.
Tips began pouring in, several of which were identified as being momentous leads in the case.
“Our agency is giving credit to the public for their quick response and assistance in locating both vehicles,” Thomas said in a Monday media release. “This is a perfect example of how imperative it is for us as law enforcement and community to all work together in an effort to say enough is enough, gun violence will not be tolerated.”
Detectives impounded and processed both vehicles and determined that the recovered stolen Pontiac Grand Am is not the second involved vehicle. Investigators said the second vehicle, still believed to be that of a Pontiac Grand Am with a burned out passenger side brake light, is still outstanding. Investigators are again asking for the public’s assistance to help locate that vehicle.
Any additional witnesses or people with information are asked to call 911 or contact the Kent Police Department tip line at 253 856-5808.
Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound is also offering a cash reward of $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and charges of the suspects involved. Call the hotline anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or go online to crimestoppers.com.
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