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Girl, 7, shot dead by family friend after leaving soccer practice

Posted at 4:12 PM, Dec 05, 2015
and last updated 2015-12-05 16:12:09-05

TAYLOR, Mich. (AP) — A 7-year-old girl has died after being shot with her mother in their car as they were leaving an indoor soccer practice in suburban Detroit.

Police say the man who shot them in the parking lot Thursday night was a family friend. He immediately killed himself outside the Taylor Sportsplex in Taylor.

Taylor police say the motive is unclear, although the man, 57-year-old Tim Obeshaw, was described as “mentally unstable.” The victims were identified as Emma Nowling and her mother, 37-year-old Sharon Watson, both from Belleville.

Watson was in serious condition at a hospital.

Police say Obeshaw talked to Watson and her daughter before the soccer practice. Witnesses said it appeared to be friendly.

“We have a little girl who just wanted to play soccer and never went home,” said Chief Mary Sclabassi told FOX 2 Detroit. “Obeshaw had been seen at the beginning of practice embracing the young girl, and she was embracing him back as though there was no problem.”