NEW ORLEANS — A former NOPD officer and little girl bonded for life when he was the first to arrive on the scene of street violence.
And now, in his crime-fighting job, thousands of miles away, he is hoping, with your help, to make her Christmas special.
For a couple of years Chlo'ee Williams has touched hearts. The victim of stray bullets in a drive by shooting, at only seven years of age, changed life for her and mom, Leronisha. They are forever grateful to NOPD officer Daniel McCreary. He used a survival kit, a Christmas gift, and his military skills to save her life. One year later, he flew in from his new home near Seattle, just to be with her at a celebration of life. Leronisha and Chlo'ee are always strong, positive and joking, but today, mom shows us a side of life after violence, one she usually keeps private.
“She's in pain every day, 10 out of 10, and I need them to find the person who did this to my baby at this point. I need answers, because people is living their lives fine while we're struggling over here. I don't even know where to turn like what to do,” Leronisha Williams said.
It's not often, but at times even, always happy Chlo'ee shows the burden, like one day after dance class.
“And then, when she got out of practice, she just was crying. She's like, ‘I can't flip.’ She's like, ‘They doing cartwheels and I can't do this and that.’”
“Every time I go to one of these scenes, they stick with me for the rest of my life, especially Chlo'ee. So, I think about her every single day,” Detective Daniel McCreary, of the Crime Reduction Unit in the Burien Police Department, part of the King County Sheriff’s office said.
Nearly 2,600 miles away, his new fellow officers and the Seattle Southside Chamber decided to help.
“He told us the story, and it touched our heart, and wanting to support Dan and Chlo'ee and the families,” Steve Kajihiro, the Acting Captain for the Burien Police Department, part of the King County Sheriff’s office, and Sergeant of the Crime Reduction Unit said.
“Giving them, you know, just a little bit of joy and hope during the holidays, just to see them smile, is a gift for all of us,” Sammie Le, Executive Vice-President of Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce said.
They hope to raise enough money to fly Chlo'ee and Leronisha to Seattle for Shop with a Cop. Every Christmas, they give dozens of children who have been through adversity, money for a shopping spree. It'll be the first time a child from out of town is part of the adventure.
“I'd like for just both of them to get out of the city of New Orleans. Obviously I want to see them all, flood her with as much love and toys as we can,” McCreary said.
“So now she's really about to get on a plane to go somewhere for the first time, like woke, and this a big thing for real, and it got me so emotional, like it's a big thing,” Williams said.
And it’s well deserved.
For more on event planning and personalized items from Leronisha Williams, visit @CustomizeYaLife on Instagram.
Click here to donate to Shop with a Cop.