MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Sweet 16 birthday is one teens look forward to, but Cateria Stokes didn’t live to see her special day.
She was gunned down in her sleep April 10.
“She would have been 16 years old today if she was still here. And so I don’t want to let that go away. I’m going to do this every year as long as I’m able to it.”
Her family released dozens of balloons in her honor. They talked about the special things she liked to do and what she might have done if she’d lived to see this day.
Cateria’s murder may have ties to the murder of another child, 7-year-old Kirsten Williams.
Cateria’s brother was arrested for shooting the 7-year-old. Police did not confirm the shooting was in retaliation, and investigators still have not arrested anyone for killing Cateria.
