On the evening of August 24, 2006, 17-year-old Cynthia Gray was standing outside with friends in the 4600 block of Benning Road SE in Southeast Washington, D.C., holding her 7-month-old godson when gunfire erupted from a stolen Cadillac. Cynthia shielded the infant with her body and pushed him under a parked car to safety; one of the gunmen then walked up and shot her in the face. Three other teenagers were wounded but survived; the baby was unharmed.

Cynthia, who was about to start her senior year at Eastern Senior High School, died from the attack. Police described the shooting as a cowardly act and said the incident began with a carjacking in a neighboring county. Arrests followed: a 20-year-old man, Cordel Lesene, was charged with first-degree murder and three counts of assault with intent to kill. A vigil and memorial were held as the community mourned her loss.

If anyone knew Cynthia, the people present that night, or has information about the events leading up to the shooting, please come forward with tips.