Derricka Patrick was 29 years old — a devoted mother, a talented hairstylist, and three months pregnant — when a routine stop turned into a deadly ambush. It was supposed to be quick. She remained in the driver’s seat of a parked car while her niece stepped inside to pick up a cake. The engine was off. The night was ordinary. There were no signs of danger. Then, within minutes, two gunmen approached. Investigators say the men walked up to the vehicle and opened fire without warning. Shots rang out in rapid succession. The attack was swift and deliberate. By the time anyone nearby could react, the shooters had vanished into the darkness. Derricka was struck multiple times. She and her unborn baby both died that night. Four years have passed. No arrests have been made. No suspects have been publicly identified. No charges have been filed. The case remains open — and painfully unresolved.
Detectives have indicated they believe the shooting may have been targeted rather than random. Some sources close to the investigation suggest the gunmen may have mistaken Derricka for someone else or believed the vehicle was connected to another individual. Others believe the attack may have stemmed from information shared or misunderstood through social connections. Authorities have not confirmed a definitive motive, but they have emphasized that the ambush appeared intentional.
For Derricka’s family, the lack of answers has only deepened the wound.
Her daughter is growing up without her mother — without bedtime talks, school milestones shared, or the guidance only a parent can give. The child Derricka carried never had the chance to be born. Two lives ended in a burst of gunfire, and the silence since has been almost as painful.
Loved ones describe Derricka as hardworking and family-centered, someone building both a career and a future. What happened that night shattered more than a family — it fractured trust, safety, and the belief that justice would move swiftly.
Investigators continue to urge anyone with information to come forward. Tips can be the missing piece. Until then, the case remains open.
And a family remains waiting — for accountability, for truth, and for the day silence is finally broken.