The August night in Akron was full of laughter and light. It was a warm, peaceful evening, the kind of summer night where the air feels thick with joy, and the streets hum with the sounds of children playing, adults chatting, and music spilling out from open windows. The smell of grilled food mingled with the faint scent of flowers and birthday decorations — a scene of celebration, friendship, and family.
It was supposed to be an ordinary summer evening, the kind where memories are made. Mikayla Pickett, an eight-year-old girl known for her boundless energy and infectious smile, was living in the moment. She danced in the yard, laughing with friends, just as any child would. She had a way of making everything she did seem special — from her sparkly nail polish to her love for makeup, which she wore with a giggle that could brighten anyone’s day.
“She was so full of life,” recalled her cousin Lynette Williams, her voice cracking with emotion. “She loved her family, she loved to dance, she was so smart. She was the kind of kid who made everyone else smile.”
But as the night grew darker, the joy of that birthday party on Roselle Avenue would be overshadowed by a tragedy that no one could have seen coming.
On August 14, 2020, Mikayla went to that birthday party, just a few houses down from her own home. It was supposed to be a safe space, surrounded by familiar faces and the warmth of celebration. Her mother, Shoskamika Risper, heard her daughter’s laughter echoing from down the street, and for a moment, everything felt right. It was the sound of happiness, of childhood innocence.
But that was the last sound Shoskamika would hear from her daughter.
As the clock neared midnight, the festivities took a sudden, devastating turn. A group of boys arrived at the party, their presence unannounced, and the mood shifted. No one knew why they were there or what their intentions were, but within moments, the sharp cracks of gunfire pierced the night air. The partygoers screamed, scrambling for cover as panic took over the peaceful celebration.
And in the midst of the chaos, Mikayla — the bright, smiling, energetic child who had just been laughing and dancing — was struck by a bullet meant for someone else.
The world around her blurred. The music stopped. The laughter faded into silence.
Lynette Williams still remembers the phone call she received that night. The voice on the other end was shaky, trembling with fear: “Mikayla’s been shot.”
Time froze.
Lynette dropped everything, running through the streets, her heart pounding in her chest, the flashing red and blue lights of emergency vehicles reflecting off the pavement. When she arrived, the scene was one of complete chaos — confusion, pain, and a world turned upside down in an instant.
Mikayla was lying on the ground, caught in the crossfire of violence that had nothing to do with her. Her small body, once full of life and laughter, now motionless. The streets were alive with sirens and frantic voices, but for Mikayla, it was too late.
For Shoskamika, the world collapsed. Her baby, the one she had carried and nurtured, was gone. The joy of that summer evening had evaporated, leaving only the cold, unrelenting grip of grief.
Mikayla Pickett was taken too soon, her life snatched away by a bullet that had no business touching her. An innocent child, caught in a web of violence that was not of her making, whose dreams were stolen in a moment of senselessness.
Mikayla loved to dance, loved to cheer, and loved to smile. She was the spark that lit up every room she entered, the child whose laughter echoed in the hearts of everyone who knew her. But in the blink of an eye, everything changed. Her family was left with nothing but memories of a girl who would never grow up, never live out the dreams she had for herself.
The violence that took Mikayla’s life left an indelible scar on her family, her friends, and her community. And yet, even in their overwhelming grief, they remembered her for who she was — a shining light in a world that had grown far too dark.
“She was just a little girl,” Lynette said through tears. “She didn’t deserve this. She deserved a future.”
But the streets of Akron — a place that should have been full of children playing and laughter ringing through the air — would forever carry the weight of Mikayla’s absence. And for her mother, Shoskamika, the world had irrevocably shifted.
The night that was supposed to be filled with joy ended in tragedy, and a mother’s heart would never be the same.
In the days that followed, the community came together, lighting candles and placing flowers by the site of Mikayla’s death. Neighbors, friends, and strangers all gathered to mourn the loss of a child whose life had been taken too soon. Pink roses and small stuffed animals were left at the scene, symbols of a love that would never fade.
But no amount of flowers or candles could bring back the laughter, the sparkle in Mikayla’s eyes, or the warmth of her embrace. She was gone, and the heartbreak of her loss reverberated through every corner of the town.
For Shoskamika, every day since that tragic night had been a struggle. The quiet absence of her daughter weighed heavily on her, and yet, she found solace in the love and support of those who rallied around her. Friends and family stood by her side, lighting candles in memory of Mikayla, sharing their grief, and honoring the child whose life had been stolen in the most senseless of ways.
Mikayla Pickett’s story — a story of childhood innocence and joy, cut short by violence — is a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the devastating consequences of unchecked aggression. No family should ever have to bury their child, and no child should ever have to suffer the violence of a world they are too young to understand.
As time passes, the memory of Mikayla’s bright smile, her love for dancing, and her infectious energy will remain etched in the hearts of all who knew her. And as her family continues to grieve, they hold onto the hope that her story will serve as a call to action — a reminder to cherish every moment, to protect our children, and to stand against the violence that steals innocent lives.
Mikayla’s death cannot be in vain. It must serve as a catalyst for change, a plea for a future where children can dance freely without fear, and where no mother is ever forced to endure the unimaginable loss that Shoskamika faced on that fateful August night.
