FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer – fed up with gang violence – is urging witnesses to come forward after a 9-year-old girl was killed during a drive-by shooting Sunday night.
Fourth grader Janessa Ramirez is remembered by family as a "loveable girl" and a well-liked student at Steinbeck Elementary School.
Dyer said Janessa was hit by a stray bullet during an exchange of gunfire near Clinton and Marks.
"Shortly after being struck in the stomach, she told her mother that she felt a burning sensation inside of her stomach and collapsed," Dyer said.
Janessa's grandfather Frank Posas said he just wants justice to be served.
"She was always smiling, loveable; everybody loved her and she loved everybody," Posas said.
Police are looking for two cars – one white and one black that were last seen going south on Marks then west on Clinton.
If you have information, you're asked to call Fresno police or Crime Stoppers at 498-STOP.
UPDATE: A 'Go Fund Me' page has been set up to raise money for funeral costs and for Janessa's lost wages. That page can be found here.
