MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The 6-year-old girl who was wounded during a deadly triple shooting last Friday in Tunica County spoke with Your News Leaders at WREG.
Marlaysia Braxton was released from LeBonheur Children’s Hospital on Tuesday. She is now back home with her grandparents in Coahoma County, Mississippi.
“I miss my mommy, and her name is Nykeria Jude,” Marlaysia said.
According to police, Marlaysia, her mother, and her half-brother were shot by her father — Markello Braxton.
Jude died. However, Marlaysia and her brother Marquavious survived. He was released over the weekend.
“I miss her so much. God loves everybody, amen,” Marlaysia said.
Tunica County Sheriff’s Office, alongside deputies from Shelby, DeSoto, and Coahoma counties, escorted Marlaysia home. The drive goes through four Counties with a hand-off of the family through each county.
When they arrived, a community was waiting and ready to embrace them and cover the family.
“I felt so good, made me want to cry for all the love they showed right here around my house,” said Angela Walls, the grandmother.
Officers say Marlaysia’s father, Markello, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His body was found in a field.
With both parents now gone, the family says Marlaysia will be safe.
But the reality of the loss of her mother still stings.
“She was a great person, inside and out. I mean she had a smile to light up the room in every dim space or place,” Anna Brown, family friend.
The family also sent out a statement, emphasizing mental health and the need to take domestic violence seriously.
WREG digging deeper found that there were 7 domestic disturbance calls made to the Tunica County Sheriff’s office involving Nykeria and Braxton.
The first call was July 28th, 2015, and the most recent call came on March 10th of this year.
“The support is very necessary and the support is very special and is much needed,” Brown said.
Today, however, the family says their focus is on Marlaysia and remembering a mother who made anyone feel at home.
“We’re all going to miss her; her family is mine,” Brown said. “Everyone who came across her became family with her. You know it wasn’t a friend, it was blood, so long live my girl. She will truly be missed.”
A GoFundMe has been made to help the family with this difficult transition, here.