Gun Violence in America: Children Caught in the Crossfire

BET.com looks at child victims of gun violence.

Crime - Although officials say overall crime fell by 2.63 percent in 2012, last year marked Detroit’s deadliest year in decades, with homicides topping 400. (Photo: Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

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Innocent Victims of Gun Violence - Gun violence claims approximately 30,000 lives annually, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With the recent shooting death of 1-year-old Antiq Hennis in Brownsville, New York, BET.com takes a look at the innocent children who are caught in the crossfire. — Dominique Zonyéé(Photo: Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

Zainee Hailey - Zainee Hailey, 13, of Newark, New Jersey, was gunned down shortly after she opened her Christmas presents. She was carrying the trash to the curb with her brother when a man in a ski mask opened fire in a case of mistaken identity, authorities said. Kasson Mormon, 15, was also slain in front of Zainee's home. Neighbors believe the gunman suspected the teens of stealing a red Jeep Cherokee. (Photo: Courtesy of the Hailey Family)

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Zainee Hailey - Zainee Hailey, 13, of Newark, New Jersey, was gunned down shortly after she opened her Christmas presents. She was carrying the trash to the curb with her brother when a man in a ski mask opened fire in a case of mistaken identity, authorities said. Kasson Mormon, 15, was also slain in front of Zainee's home. Neighbors believe the gunman suspected the teens of stealing a red Jeep Cherokee. (Photo: Courtesy of the Hailey Family)

Antiq Hennis - Struck by a bullet to the head that reportedly was intended for his father, Antiq Hennis, 1, died Sept. 1 in Brownsville, Brooklyn, just blocks away from his home.  At least four shots rang out, according to police, and Antiq was the only one hit.(Photo: Courtesy of Antiq Hennis Family)

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Antiq Hennis - Struck by a bullet to the head that reportedly was intended for his father, Antiq Hennis, 1, died Sept. 1 in Brownsville, Brooklyn, just blocks away from his home.  At least four shots rang out, according to police, and Antiq was the only one hit.(Photo: Courtesy of Antiq Hennis Family)

Jonylah Watkins - Jonylah Watkins was just 6 months old when she was killed on March 11 after she was hit by five bullets in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood. Jonylah was with her father, Johnathan Watkins, 29, who was also shot several times. Koman Willis, 33, was charged with killing the infant and shooting her father.(Photo: Family photo via Chicago Tribune/ MCT /LANDOV)

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Jonylah Watkins - Jonylah Watkins was killed at just 6 months old on March 11 after she was hit by five bullets in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood. She was with her father, Johnathan Watkins, 29, who was also shot several times. Koman Willis, 33, was charged with killing the infant and shooting her father.(Photo: Family photo via Chicago Tribune/ MCT /LANDOV)

Zaree - A bullet grazed Zaree, 2, in the head in Philadelphia on May 30 when a shootout between the police and two men broke out outside of his Germantown home. One gunman was killed, and the other remains in custody.(Photo: NBC10 NEWS)

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Zaree - A bullet grazed Zaree, 2, in the head in Philadelphia on May 30 when a shootout between the police and two men broke out outside of his Germantown home. One gunman was killed, and the other remains in custody.(Photo: NBC10 NEWS)

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Labor Day Weekend in Chicago - Eight people were killed and at least 25 other people were wounded in shootings across Chicago during Labor Day weekend in September. Among those killed was Maurice Knowles, 16, who was sitting on his porch when he was shot in the chest. Knowles was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The police apprehended a suspect immediately after the incident.(Photo: Courtesy of Maurice Knowles Family)

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Maurice Knowles - Maurice Knowles, 16, was sitting on his porch when a nearby gunman opened fire on Labor Day weekend in Chicago. He was shot in the chest, and dozens were wounded. Knowles was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead on Sept. 2. The police apprehended a suspect immediately after the incident.(Photo: Courtesy of Maurice Knowles Family)

Londyn Samuels - Louisiana has the highest gun violence rates in the United States. Londyn Samuels, 1, was just learning to walk before she was shot dead on Aug. 29 in Central City, New Orleans. She was struck by a bullet that was fired into her 18-year-old nanny's back as she carried Londyn home from the park. Police arrested Keelen Armstrong, 24, a suspect in the shooting.(Photo: Courtesy of Keion Reed/Father)

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Londyn Samuels - Londyn Samuels, 1, was just learning to walk before she was shot dead on Aug. 29 in Central City, New Orleans. She was struck by a bullet that was fired into her 18-year-old nanny's back as she carried Londyn home from the park. Two suspects have been brought in for questioning as police continue to investigate.(Photo: Courtesy of Keion Reed/Father)

Carter Scott - Carter Scott, 1, was sitting in his car seat while his father sat in the driver’s seat of a car in a Baltimore parking lot on May 24 when two men started shooting at the father and son. Carter was killed, and his father was wounded. Two men were charged with his murder.

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Carter Scott - Carter Scott, 1, was sitting in his car seat while his father sat in the driver’s seat of a car in a Baltimore parking lot on May 24 when two men started shooting at the father and son. Carter was killed, and his father was wounded. Two men were charged with his murder.

Photo By Photo: CBS 13 WJZ

Briana Palmer - Briana Palmer, 10, was leaving her Queens, New York, apartment building in the wee hours of the morning on June 29 when she walked right into a shootout. She was grazed in the hip by a bullet and rushed to a nearby hospital.  Lenard Crudup, 21, and Weldon Waites, 18, were arrested in association with the shooting.(Photo: Stephen Chernin/Getty Images)

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Briana Palmer - Briana Palmer, 10, was leaving her Queens, New York, apartment building in the wee hours of the morning on June 29 when she walked right into a shootout. She was grazed in the hip by a bullet and rushed to a nearby hospital.  Lenard Crudup, 21, and Weldon Waites, 18, were arrested in association with the shooting.(Photo: Stephen Chernin/Getty Images)

Danejah Peterson - A Miami-Dade police officer directs traffic away from the road leading to the crime scene near Southwest 216th Street and 189th Avenue where Miami-Dade officers killed four people during an operation on July 1, 2011, in Redland, Florida. Danejah Peterson, 8, was injured.(Photo:  Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Danejah Peterson - A Miami-Dade police officer directs traffic away from the road leading to the crime scene near Southwest 216th Street and 189th Avenue where Miami-Dade officers killed four people during an operation on July 1, 2011, in Redland, Florida. Danejah Peterson, 8, was injured.(Photo:  Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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D'aja Robinson - On her way home from a friend’s party on May 18, D’aja Robinson, 14, was struck and killed by a stray bullet while she was on a public city bus in Queens, New York. Kevin McClinton, 21, the alleged gunman, was captured in South Carolina a month after D’aja’s death.(Photo: Courtesy of D’aja Robinson Family)

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D'aja Robinson - On her way home from a friend’s party on May 18, D’aja Robinson, 14, was struck and killed by a stray bullet while she was on a public city bus in Queens, New York. Kevin McClinton, 21, the alleged gunman, was captured in South Carolina a month after D’aja’s death.(Photo: Courtesy of D’aja Robinson Family)

Gun Control - In a rare bipartisan exchange, House lawmakers passed a bill to expand a ban on plastic guns that can go undetected by metal detectors and X-ray machines. How about some controls on metal guns that get into the wrong hands in other ways? (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Yealaysia Williams - Keyniah Lowe, 2, was in the car riding with her grandmother, mom, and a man when gunfire broke out in Rivera Beach, Florida. Keyniah was struck in the crossfire and was rushed to the hospital. She survived her injuries. Richard Thomas Jr., 28, turned himself in to the authorities days after the shooting.(Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Sarah Rivera - Sarah Rivera, 15, was hanging out in her Bronx, New York, neighborhood on June 1 when she heard gunshots. She took a bullet in the leg as she pushed a toddler in a carriage to safety. Rivera survived and was the only one injured.(Photo: Courtesy of Sarah Rivera)

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Sarah Rivera - Sarah Rivera, 15, was hanging out in her Bronx, New York, neighborhood on June 1 when she heard gunshots. She took a bullet in the leg as she pushed a toddler in a carriage to safety. Rivera survived and was the only one injured.(Photo: Courtesy of Sarah Rivera)