Family pleads for answers on who killed 5-year-old Izabella Coleman

DETROIT (FOX 2) - Two months later, a 5-year-old girl's family is still pleading for justice after she was shot and killed as she slept in her bed.

The family of Izabella Coleman is becoming desperate as her case grows colder by the day.

"I just want to say thank you in advance for whatever information you may know to ... help us find this person," said Ke'li Coleman, her grandmother.

Crime Stoppers is offering a $2,500 reward to find the man who shot and killed the bubbly young girl, and injured her mother. Gunshots erupted inside Dejiza Coleman's home Sept. 14 on Lyndon near Evergreen on the city's west side.

"Why would they think that was okay?" said her mother Dejiza Coleman.

Detroit police say around 10 p.m. that night, a black man dressed in dark clothing came into Dejiza's home through the front door. He then walked into her bedroom where she and her young daughter were lying in bed asleep.

"Dejiza and her daughter had 14 shots fired at them," said DPD Homicide Task Force Det./Trooper Diondre Doaks.

And Dejiza says, without hesitation:

"You didn't stop and let me leave or turn around," she said.

Police say they have a person of interest who is cooperating, but say there was more than one person who fired those 14 gunshots.

"They were aware who they were shooting and to the mindset of that person," Doaks said.

Dejiza says Izabella, also known lovingly as Izzy, was a smart, curious and giving little girl. She was responsible, always helping mom take care of her little brother.

"It's hard because how do you explain to a 3-year-old that they don't have a sister anymore," said Dejiza,

Now as this family is only left with memories and police with disgust.

"No one in today's world earns any sort of respect or street credit for doing something as terrible as this," Doaks said.

All of them are asking for help as even the smallest tip could close this case and give this family some relief.

"You're taking someone off the street who failed to realize the value of a 5-year-old life," Doaks said.

Anyone with information call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP, you can remain anonymous. That reward increases by $1,000 to $3,500 if the tip comes in before midnight Nov. 29.