Nataja Boleware: 19-Year-Old Dies After Being Shot In Detroit
Nataja Boleware, 19, of Detroit, Michigan was shot and killed on September 20, 2022. Months later, her family is still waiting for justice in the case.
Nataja Boleware, 19, of Detroit, Michigan was a multi-talented person with many interests.
"She loved makeup. She loved dancing. She loved rapping. She loved singing. She loved being around others," her mother told local media. "She liked just making the people smile. She would feed the hungry with me, clothe people with me. That was what she did. That’s who she was."
Speaking to TV station Fox 2, her brother, Michael Boleware, echoed those sentiments, calling his sister, "Sweetheart. Fun, the life of the party. Sweet, selfless. Cared about everybody else.”
Nataja was also a loyal friend who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.
On September 20, 2022, Nataja was with a friend in a vehicle when another car, a Chrysler 300, pulled up alongside them. Someone in the Chrylser opened fire on the vehicle that Nataja was hit. She was shot seven times.
The shooting occurred near Lodewyck Street and East Warren Avenue on the city’s east side.
“She was helping someone with another situation that she had nothing to do with, and unfortunately she was the victim of a homicide,” Nataja’s mother Earlene Griffin told TV station WDIV in Detroit.
At a vigil for the victim, City Council President Mary Sheffield implored concerned residents to help police bring justice for the family.
“We know someone saw this. We know that someone knows something,” Sheffield was quoted as saying. “There are cameras in homes over here. So we’re just calling on the community to speak up and bring justice to this family.”
"My niece did not deserve this, at all," said Fanisha Boleware, Nataja's aunt. "Period."
A GoFundMe account set up in the victim’s memory reads:
On behalf of Nataja Boleware's entire family we would like to extend our appreciation, calls, texts, prayers and support. There are no words to describe the pain we are feeling, what we can say is "But God!"
Many of you have asked "Is there anything that we need?" " What can I do for you?” our answer to these are as follow…. 1. Continue to pray for the family profusely and 2. Assist us in seeking Justice for “Taj”So please donate to our gofundme towards justice for our princess Taja. Thank you in advance for all your prayers and support.
ALL DONATIONS WILL GO TOWARDS A REWARD TO ASSIST IN SEEKING JUSTICE FOR NATAJA BOLEWARE.
If you have any information on Boleware's murder contact Detroit police at 313-267-4600 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP, where you never have to leave your name.
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