Saturday, November 29th 2014, 10:47 pm
A stray bullet fired during a drive-by shooting killed a teenager that was in her bedroom and brought heartbreak to a Moore family.
Detectives were on scene for several hours searching for any clues that would lead them to why the deadly shooting took place.
Friends said they're still in disbelief that the girl who had a bright smile and even brighter future is gone.
"She makes me laugh, she's one of the only people I can talk to who understands me,” said best friend Savanah Miller.
“I still don't believe it happened. I can't believe that it actually happened. I'm like in shock right now."
Moore police said the call came in around 4 a.m. on Saturday of a shooting near Broadway and SE 2nd Street. Officers said there was a party going on at the house where about a dozen people were gathered.
Police say 14-year-old Railena Rhodes was in a bedroom of her mother's house when a car drove up and opened gunfire striking Rhodes in the neck. She died on scene.
"I didn't expect her to go like that. Of all the people there, why did it have to be her?" Miller asked.
It was also shocking for neighbors, especially since the home isn't far from the Moore police station.
For years, Rebecca Coffman said she's safely walked her dogs down the street.
“I actually said just weeks ago, with all the fighting and police coming more and more, I hope we don't get a drive-by shooting or something,” said Coffman.
"This is an older neighborhood, in our homes, in these little wood-framed homes, a bullet will go right through, very easily, I'm just so sorry for the family."
Friends called Rhodes "Rosemary."
One close friend Bri Weaver said Rhodes was the sweetest, kindhearted person she ever met.
Miller said she knew Rhodes since Central Junior High School and is stunned that like a rose, her life was cut too short.
"I'm going to miss her a lot," Miller said.
Police said Rhodes didn't live at the home with her mother, but stayed at her grandmother's house.
Witnesses gave police a description of a car that left the scene. Police did locate that vehicle and questioned the people who were inside.
So far, police have not made any arrests.
11/29/2014 Related Story: Sleeping Girl Killed In Moore Drive-By Shooting
An online fundraiser account has been set up for Rhodes' family. Organizers said their goal is to raise $2,000 to fly Rhodes' father and grandmother to Oklahoma from California. So far, they've raised $2,125.
November 29th, 2014
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