A nine-year-old girl in Louisiana is being hailed as a hero after she was shot and killed while trying to protect her younger siblings from gunfire.
According to PEOPLE, Lee’Lani Brooks, 9, was playing outside her home in New Orleans when gunfire erupted nearby. Brooks and her mom ran inside their home, but a stray bullet hit the nine-year-old in the head as she was ushering her younger siblings to safety.
Brooks was taken to a local hospital, where she was declared brain dead. Last week, Brooks’ family decided to take her off life support, and the young girl died soon after.
19-year-old Evan Rogers was arrested and charged with one count of attempted second-degree murder and one count of illegal use of weapons.
New Orleans police said Rogers was apprehended after a four-hour stand-off with U.S. Marshals at a hotel where he was hiding. A second arrest has been made in the shooting, but the name of the suspect hasn’t been publicly released.
Brooks’ family launched a GoFundMe page to cover funeral costs.
“My baby Lee’lani was a sweet, vibrant, and fun 9-year-old child who loved and was loved by everyone around her,” Brooks’ mom, Letisha Johnson, wrote. “She was a leader and ensured all her younger family members were protected. Her smile is unforgettable, and her personality was infectious.”
Earlier this week, Brooks’ family held a balloon release to honor the nine-year-old girl.
“That’s what we want the world to remember her as, a hero, someone who was so selfless at 9 years old,” Mike Willis, a community activist, said in a statement.
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