FRANKLINTON (Dawn Faugl) -- Three people were taken into custody at a westside motel Tuesday evening, in connection with the shooting death of a young teenage girl.
Amanda M. Kirwin, 14, was talking with some friends in front her home on Dana Ave when someone fired shots at the group around 11:43PM, Columbus police homicide detectives said. Kirwin died a short time later at Mount Carmel West Hospital.
A 16-year-old, his mom, and another young man were taken into custody at the New Rome Motel on West Broad Street. Police say none of them have been charged yet, but they were taking them in for questioning.
Police were also at a home on North Yale Avenue Tuesday evening, and searching in the area for a gun that may be connected to the shooting. A man who lived in the home told ABC 6/FOX 28 reporter Rob Wells police questioned his son, but that his son was not a suspect in the shooting.
By late morning, a memorial of candles and stuffed animals began to grow at the Franklinton shooting scene.
"She was so young, like, she didn't get to live her life at all," friend Chelsea Hook said. "Why her?"
The shooter opened fire from a vacant lot across the street. Neighbors told police they heard two to four gunshots.
Police believe Kirwin was accidently hit, but would not speculate who may have been the intended target or a motive.
Kirwin would've been a freshman at West High School, according to Columbus City Schools.
Anyone with information is asked to call CPD Homicide at 645-4730 or Crimestoppers at 645-TIPS.
This is the city's 62nd homicide this year.
