Kennedy Maxie: 7-Year-Old Girl Dies After Being Shot In Head In Atlanta

Kennedy Maxie, 7, was shot in the back of the head while riding in a car with her family near an Atlanta mall on December 21, 2020. She died on Saturday, December 27, 2020.

A little girl who Atlanta police say was hit by a stray bullet while holiday shopping with her parents has been pronounced dead, according to media reports.

Kennedy Maxie, 7, was in critical condition at an area hospital after being struck by a bullet while Christmas shopping with her family on December 21, 2020. The girl’s aunt told a local TV station that she didn’t realize Kennedy was hit until she noticed that she wasn’t feeling well.

The shooting occurred near Phipps Plaza, an upscale mall in the Buckhead district of the city.

The girl was rushed to Children’s Health Care of Atlanta-Scottish Rite, where she would fight for her life for several days. She succumbed to her injuries on Saturday, December 27, 2020.

The shooting has enraged the city, which has rallied around the family. A GoFundMe set up to help them has raised nearly $50,000 as of this writing.

The GoFundMe reads:

After an evening of Christmas shopping near Phipps Plaza, 7-year-old Kennedy Maxie was in the car heading home with her mom and aunt when she was struck in the head by a stray bullet. Kennedy is currently fighting for her life at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Continue to pray for our sweet Kennedy & please consider donating to help support her and her family during this unimaginable time. If you have any information regarding the shooting, please notify the Atlanta Police Department. Note: I am Kennedy’s godmother & I will set these donations to go directly to Mariah, Kennedy’s mother.

Atlanta police are still investigating the case, which has gone from a critical shooting to a homicide probe. The police department has announced a reward of $15,000 for any information leading to an arrest of the shooter.