WKRN, Nashville, Tennessee News, Weather, and Sports |12-year-old Nashville girl shot, killed

12-year-old Nashville girl shot, killed

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Metro police are working to identify the gunmen responsible for fatally shooting a 12-year-old girl early Thursday morning.

Mikia Woodland was shot shortly after 1 a.m. inside her home Maury Street, just south of downtown.

Metro police said Shannon Hooten, Woodland's grandmother with whom she lived, reported that around 1 a.m. she heard loud banging coming from the kitchen and to investigate.

Upon entering the kitchen, Hooten, 45, was met by several young black men dressed in white t-shirts and jeans.  They ordered her back to her bedroom.

Police said as Hooten was calling police from her cell phone, she heard several shots.

Moments later, another granddaughter, a nine-year-old, called out her name.

Hooten then discovered 12-year-old Mikia had been shot.

She rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where she was pronounced dead.

Mikia's aunt, Latonya Hooten, wasn't home at the time but said she is shaken over the incident and doesn't know who would do something like this.

"She wasn't a problem child, she was a good girl.  She loved going to school, she loved sports, she was an A-B honor student, her goal was to make all A's... She was almost there," Latonya Hooten told News 2.

Detectives believe Mikia was shot as she went to check on the commotion.

In addition to the persons named above, three other individuals, Hooten's 28-year-old son, and two children, ages five and 10, were also in the home at the time of the gunfire.

Police called the shooting a tragedy for the neighborhood.

"I know that the Hermitage precinct puts in a lot of time in this area and to have a 12-year-old shot to death is truly saddening," said Metro Police Department Capt. Harmon Hunsicker.

"I can't believe this happened," said Hooten.  "I'm like, this can't be for real."

Witnesses in the area reported seeing the suspects running from the rear of the home toward I-40.

A motive was not immediately known.

Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 74-CRIME.