WASHINGTON — A 65-year-old great-grandmother, who her family said beat COVID-19 twice, was shot and killed outside of her Southeast D.C. home late Wednesday evening.
D.C. Police said the shooting happened around 10 p.m. on the 1800 block of Q Street. Officers responded to the area after a report of gunshots.
Police said officers at the scene located the victim, identified as 65-year-old Ella-Mae Neal, suffering from a gunshot wound. D.C. Fire and emergency crews transported Neal to an area hospital where she later died after life-saving efforts.
“I’m really broken for my sister," William Neal said. "I’m really hurt. I mean I just talked to her yesterday, and my last words to her was 'I love you.'"
William Neal said his 65-year-old sister was a joyful person who valued her faith, was a matriarch in the family and a fixture in her community.
He said she was trying to run inside after shots rang out from a car, but was hit by the gunfire steps away from her front door.
"She would give her all," William Neal said of his sister. "She meant a lot to the community, she meant a lot to her grandkids, a lot to her family, to her kids.”
Have you seen this vehicle of interest?
Police are now searching for a four-door Silver or Grey Lexus with no front tags. They said the car was occupied by three armed men.
The events leading up to the shooting are unclear at this time, and the case is under investigation.