‘She loved to laugh': Family asks for justice after 3-year-old girl shot, killed in Southeast DC

A 3-year-old girl who was shot in the Garfield Heights neighborhood in Southeast D.C. Friday evening has died.

Soaked dolls along with flowers make up the memorial for the victim, Ty’ah Settles, of Southeast D.C. Her godfather started the memorial to honor the little girl who meant the world to so many. 

“Ty’ah was very bright and smart,” her godfather, who did not want to be named, said. "She loved to laugh joke, and play, and she had a good sense of humor."

Ty'ah was in a car when she was struck in the 2400 block of Hartford Street SE, police said. They believe the car was caught in an exchange of gunfire.

"These senseless killings of these children, toddlers, infants, adolescents, have got to stop, it has got to cease,” Ty'ah's godfather said. “Ty’ah will be missed dearly. She would be loved dearly."

The little girl was found in a nearby firehouse on Irving Street SE in critical condition. She was flown to Children's Hospital, where she died.

“Violence in the city right at this moment is a difficult thing. Families are suffering,” Joseph Johnson, chair of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission Ward 8B, said.

Evidence of the shooting was evident Saturday. A car damaged by bullets could be seen steps away from Ty'ah's memorial.

Johnson said action is needed to cut down on the crime that has left so many families grieving.

“I’m calling on our city leaders to act, to do something, because ultimately the blood is on their hands. They have the power to do something and it’s not working, and families are losing loved ones every day,” Johnson said.

Homicide detectives were called to the scene and are investigating.

Police do not have a motive or a suspect.

Anyone with information should call D.C. police.

Stay with News4 for updates to this developing story.

(UPDATE: News4 originally was told the victim was a boy.)