On the evening of June 29, 2002, 10-year-old Trina Ann Persad was walking near a crowded playground in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston when she was struck by a shotgun blast fired from a passing car. The shooting was described as an apparent gang-related attack in which Trina was an innocent bystander; it occurred at the edge of a park named for Jermaine Goffigan. The community responded with outrage and memorials of stuffed animals and photos at the site, and the child’s death renewed calls to address street violence in the city.

In the days after the shooting, investigators identified two suspects: 17-year-old Joseph Cousin as the shooter and 24-year-old Marquis Nelson as the alleged driver of the vehicle. Both were arrested and faced murder charges; a trial followed and at one point a mistrial was declared because of new information. Trina’s death remains a reminder of the impact of gang crossfire on innocent lives.

If anyone knew Trina, was at the park that night, or has information that could shed light on what happened, please share what is known.