Last week NBA star Dwayne Wade vocalized his criticism of rampant gun violence after his cousin was shot in Chicago. And now singer Janelle Monáe is coping with—and speaking out against—a similar tragedy.
Yesterday, Monáe tweeted the news that her cousin had been killed in a drive-by shooting at her home in Kansas City, Kansas. Natasha Hays was 37, had three teenage daughters, and was working as a caregiver when she was shot in her sleep on August 30.
Monáe took to Twitter to share the impact the murder has had on her family noting, “Evil has no race.”
Gun violence has struck home. My beautiful 1st cousin was murdered. She was a mother of 3. Loved by her community. #NatashaHays #sayhername
— Janelle Monáe👽🚆🤖🚀🪐 (@JanelleMonae) August 31, 2016
#KansasCity #Gunviolence is still keeping our city in a dark place. The fear of "who is next?" never leaves. Praying4more light. Help us.
— Janelle Monáe👽🚆🤖🚀🪐 (@JanelleMonae) August 31, 2016
Nobody deserves to lose their mother, sister, cousin, friend, etc to the hands of evil. Evil has no race. #Gunviolence #NatashaHays
— Janelle Monáe👽🚆🤖🚀🪐 (@JanelleMonae) August 31, 2016
Hearing your uncle on the phone while he tries to make sense of his daughter being murdered is the most helpless feeling in the entire world
— Janelle Monáe👽🚆🤖🚀🪐 (@JanelleMonae) August 31, 2016
Investigations into the murder are still ongoing. Police are encouraging anyone with leads to call the TIPS hotline 816-474-TIPS (8477).