Nearly half of stray bullet victims are women, study shows

Sherrell Wheatley, 62, was the most recent victim shot and killed by stray bullets in Dayton.

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According to a study by the University of California, 317 people are struck by stray bullets each year in the country, and nearly half of the victims are women.

People told News Center 7 Reporter Malik Perkins they are tired of the violence, especially when an innocent person is killed.

“It is getting bad out here. A citizen like her, she didn’t bother anybody. She was walking down the street minding her own business and bullets don’t have eyes,” said Manesta Ward of Dayton.

Ward said she knew Wheatley who was killed in a drive by shooting Saturday while walking along North Euclid Avenue when a car pulled up and started shooting. Police said Wheatley was completely innocent.

>>Stray bullets that killed woman also struck neighbor’s home, friend says

Keyona Murray, 22, was shot and killed in front of her child when someone fired several rounds into her apartment in February.

Taylor Brandenburg, 20, was shot and killed while she was babysitting last year. Someone opened fire during a fight.

Neighbors in the area told Perkins they want people to change the way they handle differences and want police to be more present in Dayton neighborhoods.

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