Missouri Mother of Five Fatally Shot at Ferguson Gas Station While Buying Slushies With Young Children
Shakeela Martin, 35, was killed late Tuesday night outside a BP gas station at South Florissant and Woodstock roads in Ferguson, Missouri, after gunfire erupted in the parking lot as she walked back to her vehicle with two of her children. Police say Martin, a mother of five, was an innocent bystander caught in crossfire that originated from an altercation inside the convenience store. No arrests have been made.
Key takeaways
- Shakeela Martin, 35, a mother of five, was fatally shot late Tuesday night outside a BP gas station at South Florissant and Woodstock roads in Ferguson, Missouri.
- Police say Martin was an innocent bystander caught in crossfire from an altercation that began inside the convenience store and spilled into the parking lot.
- Martin had stopped with her 9-year-old and 6-year-old children to buy frozen drinks, and both children were unharmed but witnessed the shooting.
- A second victim, an adult man, was also struck and hospitalized in critical condition, and no arrests have been made.
- Martin was preparing to move her children into a new home the day after she was killed and did not have life insurance.
Shakeela Martin, 35, was killed late Tuesday night outside a BP gas station at South Florissant and Woodstock roads in Ferguson, Missouri, after gunfire erupted in the parking lot as she walked back to her vehicle with two of her children. Police say Martin, a mother of five, was an innocent bystander caught in crossfire that originated from an altercation inside the convenience store. No arrests have been made.
What Happened Outside the Ferguson BP Station
Ferguson Police Department investigators said the confrontation began inside the gas station before spilling into the parking lot shortly before midnight. Martin had stopped at the station with her 9-year-old and 6-year-old children to purchase frozen drinks on a hot summer night when multiple rounds of gunfire broke out.
Ferguson Police Chief Troy Doyle confirmed Martin was not a party to the dispute. "She was here to purchase some soft drinks for her young kids," Doyle told First Alert 4. Her two children were physically unharmed but were present when their mother was shot. "You can only imagine what a child would go through watching their mom being murdered in front of them," Doyle said.
A second victim, an adult man, was also struck by gunfire and transported to a hospital in critical condition. Police have not confirmed whether he was connected to the original altercation or was an unintended target.
Family Was Days From a New Beginning
According to a GoFundMe campaign launched by Martin's family, she had been preparing to move her children into a new home the day after she was killed. The gas station visit — intended as a small celebration with her kids — ended in her death.
The fundraiser describes Martin as "a devoted mother to five beautiful children who were the center of her world" and notes she did not have life insurance. Proceeds are earmarked for funeral and burial costs, with remaining funds directed toward her children's immediate needs.
Investigation Ongoing, Tips Sought
The Ferguson Police Department has not announced any arrests or named a suspect. The investigation remains active. Anyone with information is asked to contact Ferguson investigators at 314-522-3100 or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS.
Martin is survived by her five children.