A murder suicide in Hamtramck has left a 10-month-old girl without parents, devastating relatives who say their lives have been shattered by the tragedy.
“Just sucks for the baby cause the baby has to grow up without parents because he was so selfish,” said the victim’s cousin, Alicia Lepkowski.
Authorities confirmed that 24-year-old Briana Frame was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend, who then turned the gun on himself. Family members say the killing unfolded in front of Briana’s infant daughter and her younger brother, Donald.
“She was a good mom. Even still with her passing, there are still packages coming to the house that she ordered, stuff for her baby,” Lepkowski said. Donald described the horrific moment he witnessed his sister’s death.
“She’s screaming, and then I saw him shoot her in the face. And then I went to grab my dad, and then I told him that she’s been shot,” he recalled. The trauma has left the family struggling to cope.
“Nobody should have to come back to the house and clean up a family member’s blood from the ground. Like, how do you even go on?” Lepkowski said. Relatives are now stepping in to raise Briana’s daughter, who they say is the family’s top priority, WDIV reported.
“My sister was only 24 years old. She had her whole life ahead of her. She was looking forward to her daughter walking and her first birthday, but he just took that away from us,” Donald said.
Family members describe Briana as loving and devoted, someone whose world revolved around her child. Her sudden death has left not only emotional scars but also practical challenges for those now caring for the infant.
WDIV reported that Brianna Frame’s ex then turned the gun on himself and took his own life, an account that echoed what was stated on a GoFundMe page started by Brianna Frame’s cousin, Alicia Lepkowski. The entire incident took place in the presence of 10-month-old Kameron.
Lepkowski hopes Briana’s death serves as a stark warning about the dangers of domestic violence, urging others not to dismiss signs of escalating conflict. “People tell you to walk away, and you walk away, and you still have to worry,” she said.
Loved ones say they are determined to ensure Briana’s daughter grows up surrounded by love and support, even as they mourn the loss of a young mother whose future was cut short.