CLEVELAND — Just days after Gracie Griffin was shot and killed in Cleveland, the United States Marshals Service Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force has announced that they are offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information on the suspect.
The shooting that killed the 10-year-old girl happened on Thursday, July 4, at around 7:10 p.m. in the 3200 block of West 125th Street, near Triskett Road.
Following the shooting, Gracie was transported to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland where she later died as a result of injuries sustained in the shooting.
Witnesses previously told 3News that they heard about a dozen gunshots they originally believed were fireworks before someone began screaming from the middle of the road.
Cleveland police homicide detectives are leading the investigation, but the U.S. Marshals Service says once they identify a fugitive, they will get involved in working to arrest them.
"The case is not solved," said Anne Murphy, Assistant Chief of the Northern District of Ohio U.S. Marshals Service. "Sometimes we wait a couple weeks and people think, 'Oh, maybe the case is solved. Maybe they found a suspect of somebody’s been arrested.' This is us saying, 'We need help. Please help us. Pllease bring information forward so we can find these people involved.'"
Murphy says any information could be a gamechanger for this investigation, and she encourages the public to come forward even if they only have a small detail.
Meanwhile, residents of W. 125th street say they're still wrestling with the emotions of the shooting.
Tuesday afternoon, a large teddy bear sat on the front porch of the house where Gracie was shot. Neighbors told 3News someone left it as a tribute to her in the days following the shooting.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Cleveland Division of Police’s homicide unit at 216-623-5464 or the U.S. Marshals tipline at 1-866-4-WANTED.
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