Janaya Swain was a 4-year-old girl from Akron, Ohio, who died on February 16, 2018, after being struck in the head by a bullet while sitting in a car with her grandmother and three sisters. The shooting occurred when Janaya’s mother, De’Azha Swain, went to the home of Darnell Bitting, described as De’Azha’s ex-boyfriend, to retrieve belongings. An argument followed and Bitting fired an AK-47 toward the vehicle; the round missed De’Azha and hit Janaya, who died immediately.

Bitting, 32, was arrested the next day and later convicted of two counts of murder and six counts of felonious assault. He told jurors he believed he was under attack after windows in his home were smashed and said he fired a warning shot, but the jury rejected his self-defense claim. He received an aggregate sentence of life in prison without parole for 56 1/2 years. Janaya’s family held a celebration of life; her mother publicly said she forgave Bitting and urged him to repent and pray.

If anyone knew Janaya or was in the area that night, does anyone have information that could add to the timeline or circumstances of the shooting?