Pregnant 16-year-old fatally shot in Birmingham - her mother tells gunman to turn himself in
Raven White, who was 6 months pregnant, was fatally shot during a robbery at Panorama East Apartments in Birmingham's Apple Valley on Jan. 8, 2016. White and her boyfriend were sitting in a vehicle eating pizza when the crime occurred. (Special to AL.com)
By Erin Edgemon | eedgemon@al.com
Birmingham, AL
A day after losing her 16-year-old daughter and grandbaby to a senseless tragedy, Tangee Dixon remains surrounded by family and trying to come to terms with what happened.
When asked how she is coping, the mother of Raven White, Birmingham's second homicide victim of 2016, can only say, "I am here."
Dixon has more words, though, for the suspect or suspects responsible for her daughter's death.
"I just want them to turn themselves in," she told AL.com. "Give me some peace of mind and give my baby some closure. Me and her sister deserve to know who did this to her. It wasn't right."
White, who was 6 months pregnant, was shot and killed during a robbery outside her apartment complex located in the 3000 block of Panorama East in Apple Valley.
Police say White and the 18-year-old father of her baby were sitting in a car eating pizza when a gunman approached at around 12:30 a.m. on Friday and demanded money.
For unknown reasons, the gunman shot White. She died about an hour later at St. Vincent's East Hospital.
"(The suspects) should have taken the money and left," Dixon said. "They didn't have to shoot her."
Dixon was at home in her apartment at the time and heard the gunshot.
"I didn't even know she was gone," she said. "I thought she was in the house until her sister (14 years old) told her she was outside and she had left."
Dixon said she is currently staying with her mother. She said she won't be able to sleep at her Panorama East apartment again.
White fought for her life and for the life of her unborn baby, she said.
"She tried to make it," Dixon said. "She lost too much blood."
In the wake of the deadly robbery, she said many in the community are lashing out at Raven's friend and father of her baby.
"I wish they would just leave him alone," she said, adding that he did all that he could to save her.
Dixon said the 18-year-old was no longer Raven's boyfriend, but they had a relationship for the sake of their baby.
He and Raven would meet to talk when he was in town. He is a student at the University of South Alabama.
Dixon declined to release the man's name.
On Friday afternoon, Birmingham Police Lt. Sean Edwards called the gunman a "cold-blooded killer." He said investigators were turning over every leaf, and looking at crime that occurred over the last 12 hours to help identify potential suspects.
Remembering Raven
Dixon said Raven was excited to become a mother, and a baby shower was planned for Feb. 26. Raven's baby was due on April 16.
On Saturday, she said she is planning Raven's funeral instead.
Despite becoming pregnant, Dixon said her daughter was a straight-A student and a junior at Clay-Chalkville High School. She planned to start playing volleyball on her high school team again after giving birth.
She said Raven was determined to get into a good college, become a nurse and work with children.
A candlelight vigil is set for Sunday at 6 p.m. at Panorama East Apartments.
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