Neighbors grieve for Chattanooga mom killed in shooting Saturday

photo Kenyeta Tramble
photo Kenyeta Tramble's neighbors placed flowers and teddy bears outside her apartment Sunday at the East 25th Street Court residence.

Children played Sunday in front of the house where Kenyeta Tramble lived with her son on East 25th Street Court.

But out the back door, Tramble's blood still was splattered on the ground, a reminder of the violence that took place late Saturday night.

Tramble, 21, was in the back of her apartment when she was shot about 10:19 p.m. Saturday, according to Chattanooga police. She died at a local hospital.

On Sunday, D'Asiah Johnson, Tramble's cousin, sat outside the door of Tramble's house as friends and family came by, placing gifts in a makeshift memorial on the porch and signing a pink poster board with their condolences or memories.

"She was a good mom. She was a good citizen," said Johnson, who is six months older than Tramble and lives in another building in the complex. "She took care of her son -- her son was her whole world. She didn't deserve none of this."

Police said early Sunday that a slender black man about 5 feet, 10 inches tall came to Tramble's door wearing a bandanna over his face. After the shooting, witnesses saw him running east, according to police. No new information was released Sunday night.

"They hurt me when they took my little cousin from me, and what goes around comes back around," Johnson said.

A female resident, who did not wish to be identified, said she thought the shooting may have been either a robbery gone wrong or gang-related, but she was not sure.

"At night, it's bad; it's very, very bad," the woman said. "I'm scared to go out of my house. Everything's fine when the police are here, but as soon as the police leave, they come shooting through here."

Johnson said her cousin was a good person.

"She was polite. She wasn't disrespectful. She mean what she say -- she didn't sugarcoat nothing. She liked to have fun."

Tramble also had a beautiful smile, Johnson said. Some residents who had come over to pay their condolences nodded in agreement.

"It was so bright -- she was dark-skinned, and her teeth were so white," Johnson said. "She didn't smoke, she didn't drink, so her teeth never stained. When she wasn't taking care of her son, she was taking care of her teeth."

Another resident, who also did not want her name used for fear of retaliation, said Tramble was rarely without her son.

"It just started walking," the resident said. "She was always out there with it."

Tramble's son, Aceous, is 17 months old, Johnson said, and Tramble spent most of her time taking him to museums and parks.

"What are you gonna tell him happened?" she said, weeping.

Funeral arrangements have not been made, Johnson said. A small service was held outside Tramble's home early Sunday morning.

"God got one of his angels back," she said as she buried her face in her hands. "I'm going to miss everything about her."

Contact staff writer Rachel Bunn at rbunn@timesfree press.com or 423-757-6592.

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