DAYTON — A memorial in front of Carroll High School this evening marked what would have been the 16th birthday of a student who was hit and killed by a stray bullet as she was inside her home.
Family and friends of MacKenna Kronenberger brought balloons, wore special T-shirts and decorated a tree planted last year in her honor at the school, 4524 Linden Ave. in Dayton.
RELATED: Teens’ Facebook spat led to Dayton girl’s fatal shooting, report says
Dayton police also marked her 16th birthday to remind the public that her case is not closed.
Kronenberger is the definition of an “innocent victim,” said Dayton police Sgt. Mike Godsey.
She was 14 and about to enter her sophomore year when on July 5, 2017 — while inside her Morse Avenue home — she was struck and killed by a gunshot from outside. She was not involved in the dispute that led to an exchange of gunfire.
“The Mackenna Kronenberger homicide case remains open with Dayton police homicide detectives. Our detectives continue to work to obtain additional evidence in order to complete this investigation,” said Godsey, the department’s homicide unit supervisor.
RELATED: Student slain; police say using guns to solve feud, ‘that’s got to stop’
Since July 2017, two people have been arrested in connection to the case. Jason Douglas Tidwell, Kronenberger’s half brother, was charged and sentenced, but he did not fire the fatal shot.
A second person was not formally charged because additional evidence is needed.
Anyone present or who knows what happened is urged to contact detective Thomas Cope at 937-333-1157. Also, those who wish to remain anonymous and potentially collect a reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction, can call Crime Stoppers at 937-222-STOP (7867).
Got a tip? Call our monitored 24-hour line, 937-259-2237, or send it to newsdesk@cmgohio.com
