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NEWPORT NEWS, Virginia – Flowers now sit outside the window of Evita Wilkins’ apartment in her memory.
Family and neighbors gathered outside her home on Aqueduct Drive on Monday, where Newport News police said she was shot and killed a few hours earlier.
Wilkins’ older sister Sharon Knight said the 27-year-old was outgoing and liked to make others laugh.
“If she was here there would be some laughs,” Knight said. “She would make sure everyone was smiling, thinking about the good times. She was just the life of the party. The smallest ; the youngest, but certainly the life of the party.
Wilkins ‘cousin Shaquanna Barksdale choked on remembering Wilkins’ playful spirit.
“Goofy, fun. She was full of life, ”Barksdale said, fighting back tears.
Just before 2:30 a.m. Sunday morning, police said they were called to the neighborhood to find Wilkins seriously injured. She was taken to hospital, where she later died.
The police remain discreet about the details.
Within 24 hours of Wilkins’ death, police were going door to door gathering information from neighbors to help piece together what led to the homicide.
“We don’t come on a scene, don’t process a scene, gather evidence and take interviews and we leave. We have a vested interest, ”said Captain Terrence Dunbar of the Newport News Police Department. “We show you that we are there the day before, the day and the day after. We are here with you because it is also our city. We want to make it safe for everyone. “
During the vigil, Wilkins’ mother was comforted by those close to her. She told News 3 that she was too distressed for an interview.
Relatives have said Wilkins herself was a loving mother who now leaves behind two sons: a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old.
His family are now trying to make sense of this violent and senseless act.
“It doesn’t make sense,” Barksdale said. “There’s no reason you had to. She took her away from her family, her children, so that’s no reason.
Wilkins’ sister agreed.
“She was small,” Knight said. “I’m short, but she was shorter than me. There was even no reason to kill her.
As the family pray for justice and grapple with their loss, they say Wilkins will not be forgotten.
“She made an impact on everyone,” Knight said. “Everyone she met, she definitely had an impact on them. You will surely remember her. “
Police said it was the second homicide in the Aqueduct Drive neighborhood this year.
No arrests have been made in connection with Wilkins’ death. Police say this is an ongoing investigation and don’t believe the suspect is a danger to anyone in this neighborhood. In the meantime, they will continue to patrol the neighborhood.
There is no suspicious information at this time. Anyone with information is asked to call the hotline at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP (1-888-562-5887) or go online at TipsP3.com.
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