It was about 8 p.m. on a Sunday, June 11, 2017. Day was turning into night.
The mother didn't think she had done anything wrong, let alone break the rules of the road, such as cut into the first driver's pathway as he wove too fast through a parking lot off Winchester Road.
She thought he was driving unsafely. So she yelled, "Don't hit my car!"
The man was driving a black Chevrolet Impala, with as many as three passengers inside. Challenged and not to be dissed, he followed Washington's car onto the street. Shots were fired.
Washington drove to a nearby fire station. That was when she realized a bullet had struck her two-year-old daughter in the head. Laylah was too young to know how to be disrespectful. But one of the bullets found her anyway.
The little girl, who just loved to play with her toys, died two days
later at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. Soon a candlelight vigil was held in Hickory Hill and a GoFundMe page was launched for her mother to help with expenses. Video footage showing the black Chevy appeared on TV news and in social media. A wake was held at N.J. Ford and Sons Funeral Home June 23.
During all that time, through all the tears, no one called police or CrimeStoppers' well-known tips line, 528-CASH, with information.
Now some people in the community have started
raising funds for an extra award that will go to anyone who provides information that can give authorities a lead to make an arrest.
The fund stands at $1,000 ... and counting.
Those who love Laylah, or who just love justice, are counting on someone who knows who were in that dark car that dark night will make an anonymous call to CrimeStoppers for an award.
They hope someone will do it for Laylah and for all the innocents.
Hit the links at Southwind Aug. 7
and give crime a knockout punch
The First Annual CrimeStoppers Golf Tournament is one month away. Time to form your four-person team and send in a registration card for this fundraiser to help fight crime in our community.
Play begins at 8:30 a.m. Monday, August 7, 2017 at the beautiful TPC Southwind. Registration starts that morning at 7 a.m. sharp. Teams are $600, or $150 per player. Costs include a lunch and refreshments throughout the day.
CrimeStoppers Board of Directors member and tournament organizer Gary Paulson challenges golfers to "play where the pros play and stop crime."
The tournament includes a special hole in one contest, prize drawings and the sale of mulligans for $5. Players will be limited to 100.
For more information, or to sign up, visit our
website's home page.