Vigil held for pregnant Akron teen shot and killed, seriously injured friend

AKRON, Ohio - People came out to remember a pregnant 16-year-old shot and killed and to pray for her 19-year-old friend, who was seriously injured in the attack.

The man police said pulled the trigger is behind bars, but that does little to ease the pain of those gathered Monday evening.

“No, I’m just, I’m clueless. That’s what hurts 10 times worse. I’m just so clueless,” Tyler Karam said. Tyler is the brother of 16-year-old Anna Karam.

The pregnant teen was babysitting inside an Akron home when police said 24-year-old David Stoddard came through the back sliding glass door and began firing a gun. Karam was hit in the head, killing her and her unborn baby. Jessica Halman, 19, was also shot in the head.

“I don’t know what to feel right now. It just sucks to lose her. She was so young and had a baby on the way. It’s just not right. It’s just not right and now my prayers just go out to Jess Halman and that she makes it through. Nothing was right about anything that happened,” Tyler Karam said.

Witnesses said Stoddard came to the house in search of his ex-girlfriend, Jennifer Risten, but she wasn’t there.

“I guess he was looking for me, is what everybody said. I don’t know if he came here loaded, that means he was looking to kill me,” Risten said. “I just want to ask him why? What was he going through? What was he thinking?”

“It’s sad. It’s sad that she didn’t even get to see her child be born. It’s just horrible. I have children myself, I can’t imagine someone doing so,” said Brooke Sipe, a friend of the victim.

Stoddard faces multiple charges, including aggravated murder, and he’s being held on $250,000 bond. Halman is being treated at Akron General Medical Center, but the hospital is not releasing updates on her condition.