Vigil Planned For Girl Fatally Shot By 'Family Friend' Outside Taylor Sportsplex
TAYLOR (WWJ/AP) - A candlelight vigil will be held this week for a 7-year-old girl who was fatally shot by a man described as a family friend in the parking lot of an indoor sports complex Downriver.
The public event honoring Emma Nowling of Belleville is set to begin at 7 p.m. Thursday in front of the Taylor Sportsplex in Taylor.
Police say 57-year-old Tim Obeshaw shot Emma and her mother, Sharon Watson, in their car Dec. 3 while they were leaving the girl's soccer practice at the facility. Obeshaw then shot and killed himself.
Emma later died at a hospital. Watson was seriously injured and is expected to recover.
Taylor Police Chief Mary Sclabassi said Obershaw was a family friend and was believed to be mentally unstable.
"We found evidence that Obershaw believed that someone was trying to control him through mind control," Sclabassi said.
Police say that Obershaw watched the soccer practice before shooting the mother and child near their car. Reports say he was also witnessed hugging the girl before practice started.
Sclabassi said that Watson had allowed Obershaw to stay at an apartment on her property and that Obershaw "had a fondness" for the girl.
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