A News Orleans father is struggling to cope with the reality of his one-year-old daughter being fatally shot on Thursday in a crime infested neighborhood.
"In the back of my head, this is a bad dream I haven't woken up from yet," Keion Samuels told NBC News referring to the loss of his baby girl.
The baby, Londyn Samuels, was shot while she was being carried by her 18-year-old nanny at around 8:30 p.m. on their way home after someone randomly opened fire on the 2800 block of South Saratoga Street. Police said that a bullet hit the toddler in the chest after passing through the nanny's back.
The New Orleans Police Department pronounced the toddler dead upon arrival at the hospital. Samuel's caretaker is currently in stable condition after suffering from injuries.
Superintendent Ronal Serpas addressed the unknown perpetrators of the crime stating, "These men took a baby's life tonight, and wounded a young woman. They don't deserve to walk freely among the people of New Orleans. They must answer for what they've done."
He added, "When these men opened fire, it was still early, and people were still out and about in the neighborhood. We need people to come forward, and tell us what they know."
Meanwhile, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu appealed to everyone on Friday to speak up if they have information about the men responsible for the New Orleans baby shooting. "This community has got to stand up and with force and power speak with one voice and say this is unacceptable."
Crimestoppers have offered a $5,000 reward to people who can provide pertinent information about the men who shot the baby and her nanny.
On Friday, New Orleans officials and relatives of the murdered toddler held a press conference to ask the community to end the violence that took her life and to help bring her killers to justice, reports NOLA.com.
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