A Michigan family is preparing for a double funeral instead of a birth celebration after a 19-year-old woman, just two weeks away from delivering her first child, was gunned down early New Year’s Eve.
Kendall Berrington, of Saginaw, was shot and killed while walking to a Marathon gas station at 1411 Court Street around 1:34 a.m. on December 31. She was nearly nine months pregnant with a baby boy she planned to name Romen.
According to the Saginaw Police Department, Berrington was walking with a 22-year-old man when an unidentified gunman approached, opened fire, and fled the scene. The male victim, whose name has not been released, sustained at least one gunshot wound and remains hospitalized.
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Investigators have stated they are not treating the incident as a botched robbery, though a specific motive has not yet been made public.
Detective Sergeant Oscar Lopez emphasized the weight of the crime, noting that the loss is compounded by the death of Berrington’s unborn son.
“This is a heartbreaking loss of life, made even more tragic by the fact that Ms. Berrington was expecting a child,” Lopez said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Kendall’s family, friends, and loved ones as they face an unimaginable loss.”
Berrington’s mother, Tammy Houck, confirmed that her daughter was due on January 14. In a statement posted to social media, Houck mourned the loss of her daughter and the grandson she never got to hold.
“[Two] beautiful lives taken from us. One didn’t get to experience the outside but he was still beautiful,” Houck wrote. “Justice will be served for you and him if it’s the last thing all of us do.”
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Just a month prior, Berrington had shared her excitement on Facebook, writing, “Mommy can’t wait for you to be in her arms.”
The victim’s sister, Jasmine Dixon, has organized a GoFundMe campaign to help the family navigate the sudden financial burden of funeral expenses while their mother battles her own health issues.
“The shock and pain of losing her so suddenly is something our family is still struggling to process,” Dixon wrote on the fundraising page. “Early this morning, our lives were turned upside down.”
Detectives are actively searching for the shooter. The Saginaw Police Department is urging anyone with information regarding the suspect’s identity or whereabouts to contact the investigation unit at 989-759-1488.
Those wishing to remain anonymous can submit tips through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-422-5245.
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