Keyanna Mercer, a 23-year-old woman, tragically lost her life last September in a fatal shooting in Houston. The suspect, Joshua Zimmerman, fled the scene shortly after the incident.
Sisters Kamania Gray and Tonja Mercer recently shared their thoughts and emotions in an exclusive interview with KHOU 11 News. They expressed the difficulty they have faced since losing Tonja’s twin, Keyanna.
“It’s been, it’s been tough,” said Gray, reflecting on their current situation in Massachusetts.
The sisters highlighted the missed opportunities and celebrations since Keyanna’s passing, particularly noting the absence of a joint birthday celebration in February.
Keyanna was fatally shot at a Red Carpet Inn along the Southwest Freeway in Houston, leaving her loved ones devastated.
After an extensive search, Zimmerman, the 30-year-old suspect, was apprehended in Chicago near the DNC following a tense standoff with SWAT officers.
Gray expressed her desire for Zimmerman to face severe consequences, stating, “I want them to lock him away somewhere dark and not let him out.”
Investigators revealed that Zimmerman had been on the run for over two months after escaping custody in Mississippi. He faced multiple charges and extradition for Mercer’s murder in Houston.
Mercer’s sisters believe that Keyanna was being held against her will after leaving Connecticut with Zimmerman prior to her tragic death.
Zimmerman, who allegedly used fake identities and changed his appearance frequently, was reportedly working at a restaurant in Chicago before his arrest.
Gray emphasized the need for a thorough investigation and stated, “He does not deserve to be out or ruin anyone else’s life.”
The sisters suspect that Zimmerman had assistance in his escape from Mississippi and subsequent journey to Chicago. It remains unclear what led him and Mercer to the hotel in Houston.