DaLyne Adrianna Foster

Da'Lyne Adrianna Foster, a 27-year-old Black woman known for her loving nature, was eagerly awaiting the birth of her fourth child in the summer of 2013. Already a devoted mother to three, Da'Lyne was past her due date and looking forward to welcoming the new baby. Her cousin, Jennifer Thomas, remembered her as a "nice loving parent" who took care of her kids and "just wanted the best for her and her kids." Another friend, Delores Nicholson, described her as a "good person" who "cared about people," saying, "Anything you need, she gave it to you."

On the evening of June 19, 2013, Da'Lyne was walking outside in her Dayton, Ohio, neighborhood, hoping the exercise would help induce labor. It was a warm Wednesday in the DeSoto Bass housing complex near Danner Avenue and Stewart Street. Earlier in the evening, Dayton Police had been called to the area around 7:18 p.m. for a disturbance between two women that was escalating as friends and relatives gathered. Though officers de-escalated that initial confrontation, tensions remained. Just before 9 p.m., a larger fight broke out, and gunfire erupted. Da'Lyne, who was merely a spectator to the chaos, was struck by a stray bullet. A 911 caller reported that a pregnant woman had been hit "right near the heart." She was rushed to Miami Valley Hospital but was pronounced dead at 9:19 p.m.

In a remarkable effort to save her child, doctors performed an emergency C-section. Her baby boy, later named Christopher, was delivered but was in critical condition, having suffered trauma from the impact and lack of oxygen. For days, he fought for his life in the neonatal intensive care unit, with his grandmother by his side. His grandfather, David Foster, called the seven-pound infant a "miracle," grateful that the bullet had not struck him directly. Christopher survived and continued to improve, breathing on his own within a week of the tragedy.

The Dayton Police Department, led by homicide detectives including Sgt. Richard Blommel, launched an immediate and intensive investigation. They believed they knew who the shooter was and quickly identified a person of interest, recovering a gun. However, ballistic tests revealed it was not the weapon used to kill Da'Lyne. In early July, police named a new person of interest, Korwyn Moore, after he crashed his car and a stolen gun was found in the vehicle. Witnesses had placed Moore at the scene of the shooting. Despite this, forensic testing once again showed that his gun did not match the bullet that killed Da'Lyne, and he was cleared in her case, though he faced other charges. The investigation stalled as leads ran dry.

The community mourned the senseless loss of a young mother. A candlelight vigil was held in the DeSoto Bass neighborhood the night after her death. On July 2, 2013, more than 1,000 people filled The Potter's House church for Da'Lyne's funeral, a testament to the many lives she had touched. Her family, though devastated, expressed hope for justice and forgiveness. "I'm extremely hopeful because no one gets away with this," her father, David Foster, told reporters. "We know justice will be served." He also stated that he had already forgiven the shooter, needing to focus his energy on his family and grandchildren. The family struggled with funeral costs, and a benefit was organized to help them.

Years have passed, but no arrests have been made in the murder of Da'Lyne Foster. Her case is now listed as an unsolved homicide with the Ohio Attorney General's Office. The Dayton Police Department continues to ask for the public's help. As of June 2013, the investigation was ongoing, but the trail had gone cold. Anyone with information about the shooting that took Da'Lyne's life is urged to contact the Dayton Police Department at 937-333-COPS.