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Family devastated after mother shot and killed in Gilpin Court

Posted at 5:04 PM, Oct 10, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-10 18:12:55-04

RICHMOND, Va. -- A Henrico mother is in pain having watched her youngest child die after being shot in Gilpin Court on Sunday afternoon.

Richmond Police said 52-year-old Carmella Winston, known as Diane, was shot and killed by random gunfire just before 3 p.m. while she was sitting in a parked car on East Hill Street.

“Innocent bystander is what she was,” Winston’s niece, Shamalda Witherspoon, said.

Family of Carmella Winston

Family of Carmella Winston

Witherspoon said three children, ages eight, six and four, as well as Winston’s mom, were all driving to visit a relative when random gunfire erupted.

“My momma saw her baby, her last child… her baby she saw this, these kids saw this, it’s just ridiculous,” Witherspoon said.

CBS 6 reporter Melissa Hipolit talked to the children off camera.

In tragic details, they described how they saw their aunt with blood on her face.

“One of the kids actually said last night… and this is a 6-year-old, said her life was falling apart.  How can a 6-year-old say her life was falling apart?” Witherspoon’s husband, Eugene, said.

Carmella Winston

Carmella Winston

The couple said Winston’s mom lost another daughter more than 20 years ago when she was also shot and killed in Gilpin Court.

The woman was Shamalda Witherspoon’s mom.

“That was different, but it still brought back the same exact memories, your baby girl got shot,” Witherspoon said.

gilpin-court-shooting-scene

Now, the family is left once again with just pictures and memories of a woman who brought so much joy.

“We just need answers, we just need some help, justice, please, we need answers, somebody,” Witherspoon said.

Richmond Police need the public’s help with this case and are asking anyone who saw anything unusual or knows anything, to call Crime Stoppers at 780-1000 or Detective Jeff Crewell at 646-5324 or Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.

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