Kourtney Freeman was only 11 years old when gunfire shattered the safety of her family’s home and stole her future in a matter of seconds.
She was sitting inside with relatives, surrounded by the people who loved her most, when bullets suddenly tore through the front door. According to investigators, the violence stemmed from a drug deal arranged on Snapchat that brought an armed teenager to the house. What may have begun as a reckless decision outside quickly became a deadly nightmare inside.
Witnesses say the shots erupted without warning. Splinters and glass flew as gunfire ripped through the entrance. Within moments, the chaos reached the living space where Kourtney sat. She was struck multiple times. Despite desperate attempts to help her, the young girl died there, in the very place meant to protect her.
Police later recovered a handgun believed to be used in the shooting. Authorities said the weapon matched the shell casings scattered across the porch and yard — silent markers of how quickly violence had unfolded. The accused shooter, 16-year-old Re’Mori Roath, was charged as an adult. In November 2025, he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
For prosecutors, the plea brought a measure of accountability. For Kourtney’s family, it brought no relief.
They describe her as a gentle child who disliked conflict and loved being around family. She was a daughter, a sister, a bright presence whose life was just beginning to take shape. Birthdays, graduations, dreams — all of it ended in an instant because of a decision fueled by drugs and a gun.
The front door has long since been repaired. The shell casings are gone. But inside that home, the silence left behind is permanent. And for those who loved Kourtney, justice can never replace the life that should still be growing up.