Mother pleads for justice after 16-year-old daughter shot, killed in downtown Oakland
OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) - Reggina Jefferies was identified as the 16-year-old girl killed in Tuesday evening’s downtown Oakland shooting where three others were injured.
The victim's mother spoke on Wednesday and said she wants justice for her daughter. Onika Wilson, said she was devastated and hurt that she’ll never see her daughter again.
The same day, Reggina's family members gathered at the same park in Oakland where the gunfire that claimed her life broke out, to release balloons in her memory.
The teen would have been a senior this fall at Deer Valley High School in Antioch.
Jefferies was doing a praise and worship dance in church before attending a vigil gathering for two teenagers who had drowned last month. That's when the shooting broke out around 5:40 p.m. at Franklin Street between 13th and 14th streets near the Tribune Tower.
The three survivors in that shooting, whose ages ranged from their mid-teens to early 20s, were all transported to hospitals and were said to be in stable condition.
Wilson said she watched her daughter perform and took her to the repass— or a reception after the funeral and had dropped Reggina off.
“I called my daughter at 5:25 and asked her if she was okay and she said yes. I got a phone call that my daughter had been shot at 5:36.”
Wilson said her daughter loved to dance and this expression was her way to pay tribute to her friends. Now people are paying tribute to her. A growing memorial now sits where the girl was killed.
“It’s sad. She was celebrating the life of another young teen that lost their life. In the midst of celebrating their life, she ends up losing her own life,” said Lakeisha Bell of Oakland.
“If anybody out there knows anything out there please, please let me know anything. I need justice,” said Reggina’s mother.
Oakland police did not have anyone in custody or suspect information in connection to this shooting.