7-year old Indiana girl shot and killed in home invasion

Kristyana Jackson, age 7

7-year old Kristyana Jackson had just returned home from a football game with her mother when three men invaded their home, in Elkhart, Indiana.  Her father opened the door and was shot and injured, then the men shot Kristyana in the head.  She later was declared braindead.

From an article and video:

So far police have released little information on this home invasion turned murder. In fact, Elkhart Police Department has released no information on the suspects.

But, neighbors and friends chose not to reflect on the suspects but rather remember the little girl who lost her life.

“She was my bestest friend,” wept Rachell Clifford, Kristyana’s second grade classmate and friend.  

“She’s just a really nice girl, like, she’s young, she’s happy,” said Shaneka Ballard of her younger cousin.

On Sunday, family and friends gathered to remember 7-year-old Kristyana in front of her home on Kilbourn Street in Elkhart. 

“They were just coming home from the Central-Memorial football game and some stuff happened,” explained Ballard of Friday night. “I don’t know exactly what happened or how the story went.”

But, neighbors remember the events of Friday night all too well.

“By the time I got out to the street, the father across the street had already exited the front door with a bloody arm, screaming, they shot my baby, they shot my baby,” remembers neighbor, Iverson Grove.  

According to neighbors, Kristyana was shot in the head when unknown suspects broke into her family’s home and opened fire. Neighbors say, her father, John Jackson was shot several times trying to protect his family.

(a related article).