12-year-old Nashville girl shot, killed

WKRN Afternoon Update NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Metro police are working to identify the gunmen responsible for fatally shooting a 12-year-old girl early Thursday morning. Makia Woodland was shot shortly after 1 a.m. inside her home Murray 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 Makia had been shot. She rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where she was pronounced dead. Detectives believe Makia 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. 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.