Nationwide — Terell Boyd, one of many 4 males charged within the 2020 capturing that killed 7-year-old Natalie Wallace, was discovered not responsible this week. The ruling got here practically 5 years after the stray bullet that ended her life throughout a 4th of July gathering in Chicago.
Natalie had been enjoying exterior within the Austin neighborhood when three gunmen stepped out of a white automobile and opened hearth towards a close-by celebration. Police mentioned greater than 20 pictures had been fired, and one bullet struck the kid within the brow as her household watched. She later died on the hospital.
Boyd confronted costs that included homicide and aggravated battery, however the choose cleared him on all counts. His brothers, Davion Mitchel and Kevin Boyd, had been additionally charged within the case. Mitchel was beforehand discovered not responsible, whereas Kevin Boyd was convicted of homicide, aggravated battery, and aggravated discharge of a firearm. Kevin is ready to return to court docket this Thursday.
One other man, Reginald Merrill, was accused of driving the group to the capturing scene. He, too, was discovered not responsible of homicide and aggravated discharge of a firearm.
Natalie’s father, Nathan Wallace, mentioned every acquittal has made the previous 5 years even heavier. He has attended each listening to, hoping for closure in his daughter’s case, however now feels that hope slipping away. He mentioned sitting by repeated testimony shattered what little power he had left.
“I’m simply torn and nonetheless attempting to determine methods to go day-by-day residing with one thing like that,” Wallace advised ABC 7 Chicago.
Wallace described the years because the capturing as a relentless effort to carry on to his daughter’s reminiscence. He mentioned she beloved “Frozen” and at all times crammed their residence with heat. The repeated not responsible verdicts have left him feeling like justice won’t ever come.
He added that the sense of loss has stayed with him on daily basis. Whereas others get to return to their lives, he mentioned he’s nonetheless attempting to place his household again collectively.
“You already know, fathers are purported to be there to guard their little one. And that day I really feel like I failed, and on daily basis I’m sitting there attempting to make it up with the opposite youngsters,” he mentioned. “Everyone will get to return to their common lives, and I’m nonetheless choosing up the items.”
