Ra'niya Steward: Illinois community prays for 13-year-old girl shot in head in 'senseless act of violence'

ALTON, ILLINOIS: The Alton community is coming together in prayer for a 13-year-old girl fighting for her life after getting shot in the head. Ra'Niya Steward has been in critical condition in hospital since Saturday, February 3, afternoon, Telegraph reported.

Two 19-year-olds were charged with first-degree attempted murder by the Madison County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.

Who is accused of shooting Ra'Niya Steward?

The victim is said to have been shot in the head by Alvin Perry III and Raysean Colvin while she was standing on the porch of a home on Highland Avenue.

"This senseless act of violence has brought us all together to unify us," Alton Mayor David Goins said, KSDK reported.

The prosecutor for Madison County, Tom Haine, stated that he anticipates the evidence to demonstrate that the girl was not a targeted victim.

The incident happened in the ward of Alderwoman Rosie Brown, KSDK stated.

Brown said that Steward, who is from Alton, was hit in the head by a bullet while she was standing on the porch of a family member's home on Saturday. "Ra'Niya... we're going to be calling out that name a lot tonight," she stated.

"A 13-year-old girl is fighting for her life and she was not even the target, she was just outside being a 13-year-old girl. The last report is that Ra'Niya is holding on."

In an effort to offer consolation, Brown organized a prayer vigil on Thursday, February 8, night in collaboration with Missy Johnson, a community advocate.

Over 200 candles were donated to Alton community

Chaplin Marc, Reverend Mike Adams, and Captains Cassy and Shaun Grey of the Alton Salvation Army donated more than 200 candles and dripping protectors. "This community, everybody knows everybody," Brown remarked.

She recognized 19-year-old Alvin Perry III, one of the suspected shooters, as a high school friend of her son's.

"When I found out... he played basketball and he had a great mentor, I thought, what went wrong? This is his friend and I thought, what could I have done? What could have the community done?" Brown divulged.

Perry and Colvin would be detained in jail pending trial if Haine is granted pretrial detention. Brown said, "My biggest question is how are these children getting these guns."

Johnson, who was born and raised in Alton, wanted to showcase all that her hometown had to offer.

Johnson declared, "This is home to a lot of love, not violence." The two are urging everyone in the community to make a commitment to using prayer's power to bring about peace.

Johnson stated, "Our Alton comes together and we are with this family, we are here for Ra'Niya, Ra'Niya strong and we will be there for her from this point on."

Haine stated that more charges might be announced and that detectives from the Alton Police Department are still looking into the case.