29-year-old Shalonna Dowdell had just moved into a house on Detroit's west side and started a new job. Things were going well for her, but one man stole the life that she should've had.
"I just saw her the other day and for somebody to take her life is like -- why would they do that?" said Gabrielle Hearndon.
Dowdell was her cousin, but she was more like a mother.
"She took my sisters in when my mother died. She cared for a lot of people. She [was] even the godmother of my baby, and she [was] just like an awesome person."
She was also a great neighbor. Dowdell and her six-year-old daughter moved into the house just weeks ago.
"Made me feel a bit comfortable around here. I was able to sit on the porch a little bit more and enjoy the weather and the neighborhood," a neighbor told us.
However, that all changed Tuesday night.
"Around here you hear gunshots, but this was close, which I knew it came from next door."
The young mother had been shot. It happened in front of her house, in front of her daughter.
The alleged shooter has been identified as 45-year-old Joe Lloyd, a man who family members say wanted a relationship with Dowdell, and when she said no, began threatening her.
Dowdell's little girl ran to her neighbor's house for help.
"When she came back, she was frantic and just sad."
Wednesday morning, police found Lloyd in a parking lot at 13 Mile and Woodward dead inside his van with a gun and a suicide note confessing to the murder.
"All the females in the world that you could have and you just like kill somebody because they don't want you in front of her baby," Hearndon remarked.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 2:28 AM EDT2013-05-22 06:28:15 GMT
More than 2,000 people were in attendance to hear Donald Trump speak at Oakland County's Lincoln Day Dinner. Before the event, he told reporters he believes Detroit is "on the right path."
More than 2,000 people were in attendance to hear Donald Trump speak at Oakland County's Lincoln Day Dinner. Before the event, he told reporters he believes Detroit is "on the right path."
Monday, May 20 2013 11:08 PM EDT2013-05-21 03:08:56 GMT
A small dog was taken from a woman's car on Sunday. Now a woman claims she wasn't trying to steal the dog. She was trying to save its life because it was locked in a car on a hot day.
A small dog was taken from a woman's car on Sunday. Now a woman claims she wasn't trying to steal the dog. She was trying to save its life because it was locked in a car on a hot day.
Thursday, May 16 2013 9:04 PM EDT2013-05-17 01:04:18 GMT
13 people were shot in Detroit in just 24 hours, five from one block, including a woman who was just hours away from a kidney transplant. She did not survive.
13 people were shot in Detroit in just 24 hours, five from one block, including a woman who was just hours away from a kidney transplant. She did not survive.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 9:45 AM EDT2013-05-22 13:45:43 GMT
Authorities say a 72-year-old suburban Detroit woman has been arrested after firing a shot from a .38 caliber handgun at her daughter during an argument.
Authorities say a 72-year-old suburban Detroit woman has been arrested after firing a shot from a .38 caliber handgun at her daughter during an argument.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 7:38 AM EDT2013-05-22 11:38:56 GMT
A memorial service is this weekend for a newly married Detroit-area youth minister who was killed in a traffic accident as he and his wife were en route to their honeymoon in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
A memorial service is this weekend for a newly married Detroit-area youth minister who was killed in a traffic accident as he and his wife were en route to their honeymoon in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 2:28 AM EDT2013-05-22 06:28:15 GMT
More than 2,000 people were in attendance to hear Donald Trump speak at Oakland County's Lincoln Day Dinner. Before the event, he told reporters he believes Detroit is "on the right path."
More than 2,000 people were in attendance to hear Donald Trump speak at Oakland County's Lincoln Day Dinner. Before the event, he told reporters he believes Detroit is "on the right path."
Wednesday, May 22 2013 2:17 AM EDT2013-05-22 06:17:02 GMT
Find out how you can help the victims of Monday's deadly tornado that ripped through the Oklahoma City suburbs, killing two dozen and flattening neighborhoods, schools and businesses.
Find out how you can help the victims of Monday's deadly tornado that ripped through the Oklahoma City suburbs, killing two dozen and flattening neighborhoods, schools and businesses.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 12:02 AM EDT2013-05-22 04:02:09 GMT
Detroit police believe a man in a surveillance photo is responsible for a kidnapping, carjacking, sexual assault and armed robbery on the city's east side.
Detroit police believe a man in a surveillance photo is responsible for a kidnapping, carjacking, sexual assault and armed robbery on the city's east side.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:59 PM EDT2013-05-22 02:59:19 GMT
Some Detroiters say their neighbor is hoarding dogs. She has been accused of doing it before. In 2011, 25 dogs were removed from her home, but we're told a case was never brought.
Some Detroiters say their neighbor is hoarding dogs. She has been accused of doing it before. In 2011, 25 dogs were removed from her home, but we're told a case was never brought.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:14 PM EDT2013-05-22 02:14:08 GMT
Innuendo, sexual advances and an overnight stay in Lansing -- a politician's former aide claims he had to endure a nightmare on the job. Now a sexual harassment lawsuit has been filed against Rep. Brian Banks.
Innuendo, sexual advances and an overnight stay in Lansing -- a politician's former aide claims he had to endure a nightmare on the job. Now a sexual harassment lawsuit has been filed against Rep. Brian Banks.
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Shalonna Dowdell
