Nyota Bawili, 39, was fatally shot in her Louisville home on January 9, 2022. She was sitting in the living room with her husband and their 13-month-old child at about 2 a.m. when gunfire came from outside; a bullet struck Bawili in the head and she died at the scene. She was about six months pregnant and her unborn child also died. Her husband and the toddler were unharmed.

The family had lived in Louisville for roughly six months after moving from Florida. They told police they had no known conflicts and did not believe Nyota was the intended target. Her death devastated Louisville’s Congolese community; she had fled violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo nearly six years earlier. The seven children range in age from 13 months to 21 years.

Louisville Metro Police opened a homicide investigation and classified the event as a double homicide. No suspects have been publicly identified and no arrests have been made; the shooting has been described as possibly caused by a stray bullet, but the case remains unsolved. If anyone knew Nyota or has information about the shooting, please come forward.