Parents of 9‑year‑old Michigan girl killed in drive‑by shooting demand justice after home hit with 200 rounds

The parents of Tyhari Knox, a 9‑year‑old girl from Flint, Michigan, are pleading for justice after she was killed in a drive‑by shooting while she slept inside her family’s home.

According to ABC12 News, the shooting happened around 2 a.m. on May 8 when gunfire erupted outside their Altoona Street residence in Flint’s Mott Park neighborhood. Investigators said gunmen fired more than 200 rounds into the home during the attack.

Gunmen sprayed the house with bullets, killing Tyhari as she slept upstairs and critically injuring her 12‑year‑old sister, who ABC12 reports is recovering after being shot in the leg.

Parents of Tyhari Knox Call the Attack “Unnecessary” and “Cowardly”

Tyhari’s father, Tyraye Knox, said the shooters robbed the family of a loving, joyful child.

“They were cowards. They took a beautiful young child. Respectful. She was my world. That was my everything,” Knox told reporters.

Her mother, Alexis Smith, said she cannot understand why anyone would target a home filled with sleeping children.

“She was asleep and took all of them to do this, 200 or some bullets, in my home,” Smith said, according to ABC12. “It was unnecessary… there is no one here but us and kids. It’s a house of kids, asleep.”

Smith said the shooting “broke my family” and left her daughter’s siblings devastated.

Family Urges Shooters to Come Forward

With no arrests announced, Tyhari’s parents are urging anyone involved, or anyone who knows who is responsible, to speak up.

“Yes, speak up, somebody… turn them in,” Smith said. “As long as you are keeping them, helping them, you are going to go to jail too.”

Knox said the violence plaguing Flint must end.

“All of this gun violence, this shooting back and forth, it has to stop now. It’s a young crowd doing this… We have to come together. My daughter is gone,” he said.

Community Leaders Call the Tyhari Knox Shooting a Turning Point

Flint City Councilwoman Tonya Burns joined the family during the press conference in calling for accountability, describing the shooting as a defining moment for the city. According to Flint Beat, Burns said the killing was “the execution of innocence” and warned that families across Flint are living in fear.

Burns urged parents to stay involved in their children’s lives to help curb violence.

“A part of parenting is making sure your child is not a menace to society… It’s going to take everyone in this community, everyone,” she said.

Police Say Multiple Shooters Likely Involved

Flint Police Chief Terence Green said investigators believe it was targeted and multiple shooters carried out the attack and called the case the department’s top priority. He told ABC12 he is confident arrests will be made.

As the investigation continues, Tyhari’s parents say justice will never bring their daughter back but they hope it prevents another family from suffering the same loss.