In the early morning of January 8, 2010, 25-year-old Darien Richardson and her boyfriend were asleep in their Portland, Maine apartment on Rackleff Street when masked intruders burst into their bedroom and opened fire. Richardson was struck in the hand and leg; the leg wound traveled up her thigh and lodged in her hip. Her boyfriend, Corey Girard, sustained less severe gunshot injuries. Richardson survived the initial attack and spent three days in the ICU and 18 days in critical care and was expected to recover.

On February 28, 2010, Richardson died of a pulmonary embolism that formed as a complication of her gunshot wound. Investigators later linked the handgun used in the shooting to another murder that occurred weeks after Richardson was shot; forensic testing confirmed it was the same weapon. The gun’s original purchaser said he had privately sold it to an unknown person, a sale that at the time left no paper trail in Maine. No arrests have been announced. Her family has offered a $15,000 reward and pushed for tighter gun laws while continuing to seek justice.

If anyone has information about the shooting or the private sale of that handgun, please come forward.