‘Baby, they got me,' said grandma killed by stray gunfire
MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - Hundreds gathered at New Salem Baptist Church in Minneapolis Wednesday to celebrate a Robbinsdale woman killed by stray gunfire two weeks ago.
Birdell Beeks was at a stoplight at 21st Avenue N. and Penn Avenue N. when her granddaughter spotted a man with a gun.
BACKSTORY - Grandmother shot, killed in minivan
“She said, ‘Nanny back up, Nanny back up. Hurry back up,’” recalls Beeks’ daughter and the girl’s mother Sa’lesha Beeks. “She looked over and she said, ‘baby they got me’ and passed out.”
Police say Beeks was the innocent victim of a bullet not intended for her.
Investigators have interviewed a few people, but have yet to make an arrest.
“The people in this city are so afraid to talk for retaliation reasons,” said Sa’lesha. “But my mom could have been your mom, your grandmother.”
In between receiving hugs and well wishes from friends Wednesday, Sa’lesha was more than happy to address the violence problem affecting the northside.
“When you see a kid out doing wrong, check that kid and say, no you can be there, you can do something.”
Sa’lesha is one of many people who believe it is going to take more than an effort by city leaders and police to curb the gun violence.
“Just as soon as we can put a race component to it, then all of a sudden people want to come out and start pointing fingers,” said the victim’s nephew Anthijuan Beeks. “But as soon as something happens in the community by another person of color, the word is hush hush.”
If you have any information that could lead to an arrest, you can leave an anonymous tip at (612) 692-TIPS.