DETROIT (WXYZ) — "It's a park where people should be able to come and enjoy themselves with their families, not come and get killed," said Sherri Scott whose 30-year-old daughter, Francesca Marks, was fatally shot at Rouge Park Saturday after two men got into a fight over a basketball game.
Detroit police said more than one person began shooting at the park near Plymouth Road and Burt around 7 p.m.
A 29-year-old man suffered a non-fatal gunshot wound. Francesca was shot and killed while trying to rush her children, nieces and nephews to safety.
Francesca, who worked in housekeeping at St. John Hospital, leaves behind seven children. The youngest is a 2-month-old baby and the oldest is 12 years old.
"My daughter is dead and she has seven kids and three of them not gonna remember their momma," said Sherri who cried on the porch of her home surrounded by loved ones.
It was Francesca's 10-year-old daughter who was next to her when she saw her mom fall to the ground.
Detroit police said it all began with two men arguing over a basketball game.
"She was getting ready to leave because these guys had already had a fight," said Sherri who learned many of the heartbreaking details from Francesca's twin sister who was also at the park with her boyfriend and his relatives for a family reunion.
Francesca decided to join them Saturday to get the children out of the house and barbecue like only she could, said family members.
As Francesca and her family were rushing to leave the park, they heard a woman yelling about someone having a gun. Francesca and her family began to run for cover as shots were being fired, but Francesca was hit and collapsed.
"She looked at her sister and said, 'I think I've been shot,'" Sherri told 7 Action News Monday. "Over a basketball game. She had nothing to do with none of that."
Francesca’s husband was on his way back to the park when the shooting happened.
Detroit police are continuing to investigate, but no arrests have been made. Anyone with information in the case is urged to call Detroit police homicide investigators at 313-596-2260.
Francesca's family has set up a GoFundMe account for help with her funeral costs. Click here if you'd like to help with a donation.
