Detroit Police say 11-year-old girl shot and killed during sleepover, 2 arrested

11-year-old fatally shot in Detroit on Saturday

11-year-old Saniyah Pugh was having a sleepover with 5 other kids when shots were fired from outside into the home, police said.

DETROIT (FOX 2) - The Detroit Police Department said that they have two people, an adult and a minor, in custody on Sunday in relation to the death of an 11-year-old girl Saturday evening.

"Our deepest condolences go out to the victim’s family and friends at this unimaginable time," said DPD.

Detroit police are investigating the shooting death of a 11-year-old Saniyah Pugh due to ‘adult nonsense' as she was killed during a sleepover Saturday night on the city's east side.

"Saniyah was a very beautiful, intelligent… she was a very talented little girl," said Lawanda Melton, Saniyah's grandmother.

Police said they were called to a home in the 20200 block of Goulburn, just south of 8 Mile, around 10:15 p.m. by the grandmother of the 11-year-old girl who said the young child had just been shot and killed.

Saniyah was a middle schooler, a gymnast and cheerleader, and was getting ready to celebrate her 12th birthday at the end of the month.

During a late night press conference from Police Chief James White, he explained that they believe the girl was having a sleepover when someone fired multiple shots into the home.

"Someone shot up the house from outside, striking the 11-year-old, who was in the home with five other children. It appears they were having a sleepover," White said.

There were five other children and two adults inside the home but only the 11-year-old girl was hit by bullets. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

"My children and grandchildren are scarred… they are totally scarred from this because all of them had to see this and experience this. Something that I wouldn’t want my worst enemy to even experience," Lawanda said.

White said there is another scene on Waltham Street, which is the next street to the west of Goulburn, that they believe is related. White was visibly outraged with another shooting death of a child in Detroit.

"We don't have a whole lot, other than another child from our city being shot, this one fatally, due to some adult nonsense, obviously, that she has nothing to do with," White said. "We have a wide open investigation but we're going to work this case and we're going to have something. Officers and investigators are going to do what they do well."

White said they don't know if the shooting was a driveby or someone walking behind the home but said the rounds were all fired into the back of the house.

Police said more information will be given at the appropriate time.

A GoFundMe was created by the family to help pay for her funeral expenses. Anyone interested in donating can do so here.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detroit Police or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.

Crime and Public Safety Detroit