Three suspects are in custody in connection with the shooting death of one-year-old Mahleah Williams. Williams was shot on Christmas Day and died three days later. Police say Williams was struck by a bullet from a vehicle leaving the apartment complex on Trinity Court.
Earl McKee, chair of the Orange County Board of County Commissioners issued this statement, on Thursday, regarding the shooting:
Once again I find myself trying to find words to express the sense of tragedy that our community feels in the wake of another killing. This time a baby girl, Maleah Williams, was struck and killed by a bullet fired from a car leaving the parking lot of the apartment complex where she lived.
It is difficult to imagine a more heart wrenching reality for this family than this: a mother mourning the death of her child, while most of the community celebrated Christmas. This death of an innocent child should have never happened and I honestly wish I could feel confident that I might never again have to repeat this message. We cannot view these killings as something that happens to others without the danger, as a community, of becoming numb to them and eventually accepting them as part of life.
We do not know all of the facts of this incident, but this type of blatant disregard for human life cannot continue to be tolerated. All it takes to totally transform a family, a neighborhood, a town is to excuse this type of behavior. The bullet that struck Maleah did not know what path it took, but the person who fired the gun displayed a total lack of concern for the tragedy their actions would cause.
This lack of respect for life and community should cause all of us to work for a safe and peaceful place for everyone. Orange County will continue to work with our elected and municipal law enforcements agencies to ensure the safety of all of our residents.
As Mayor Pam Hemminger said, “We have a right to demand this as a community.”
On behalf of the Orange County Board of Commissioners, we extend our heartfelt sympathy to the family of little Maleah, and ask for prayers for her and her family in their time of grief. May God bless Maleah’s memory and use it to strengthen our resolve to come together as a community for change.
Respectfully,
Earl McKee
Chair
Orange County BOCC
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