State Rep. Speaks Out Following 3-Year-Old's Death

DETROIT (WWJ) - Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee calls the shooting death of a little 3-year-old girl a "disgrace." Now, a state lawmaker is also speaking out.

WWJ's City Beat Reporter Vickie Thomas reports that State Rep. Maureen Stapleton says little 3-year-old Aarie Berry lived in her district.

"Sitting in her house, minding her own business; child dead," Stapleton said. "The senseless gunfire, the lawlessness that seems to exist, again, I think it's all geared toward people not being employable and jobs not being available."

She also believes we need to rethink gun laws, like open carry.

"I think a whole lot of things send bad messages to kids and that's just one of them," Stapleton added. "We need to reinvest in the basic moral fiber that all of us grew up with. And, that wasn't carrying guns just, you know, out in the open."