A 13-year-old girl was fatally shot just days before Christmas, turning what should have been a season of joy into unimaginable grief for her family and community. Remembered as a bright, kind child who had survived a fragile start to life, her death sparked arrests, an outpouring of support, and renewed heartbreak over senseless violence.
The tragedy echoed other recent acts of brutality around the world, where ordinary days ended in loss and heroism. As families mourn, communities have come together with tributes, fundraisers, and calls for justice—grappling with lives cut short and the lasting pain left behind.