Friends and family are mourning a Delaware mother of two who was shot and killed while sitting outside with her children.
Artise Brown, 24, along with a 19-year-old woman were sitting outside a home on W. 6th Street in Wilmington around 8 p.m. Tuesday when a gunman suddenly opened fire.
Brown was struck in the lower back while the 19-year-old was struck in her left leg. Brown's cousin Renaesha Ellington rushed over to her and held her in her arms as they waited for police and paramedics to arrive.
"I tried to get her to grab my hand," Ellington said. "I tried to get her to squeeze my hand. I tried to get a response in some type of way by talking to her and putting pressure on the wound."
As officers responded to the scene a large crowd spilled out into the streets. Witnesses told NBC10 the crowd made it difficult for police and paramedics to get to Brown. A woman in one video posted on social media was upset about the response time from officials however.
Both Brown and the 19-year-old were taken to Christiana Hospital where Brown later died from her injuries. The 19-year-old woman is currently in stable condition.
Brown's family believes the shooting was random and that she was struck by stray bullets fired from down the block.
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"He's a coward,' said Candice Brown, the victim's sister. "You shoot in the crowd! In broad daylight with kids outside! So you didn't care. You didn't care!"
Police have not yet released information on any suspects. The investigation is ongoing.
If you have any information on the shooting please call Detective B. Conkey of the Criminal Investigation Homicide Unit at 302-576-3660.
