Friday evening in Dayton seemed like any other night — until more than a dozen rounds of gunfire turned a father’s routine drive into an unspeakable tragedy. Around 9:30 p.m. on October 10, on Nicholas Road near Millicent Avenue, dispatchers received frantic 911 calls: “A baby just got shot!” Screams filled the line. Among them came the pleading voice of a father: “Somebody got to shooting when we got in the car… my daughter’s shot… hurry up.”
When police arrived at the 3000 block of Nicholas Road, they discovered a 27-year-old man and his 5-year-old daughter suffering from gunshot wounds. The father had been struck in the foot; Legaci Deshawn Taylor lay critically wounded in her car seat. Despite swift medical efforts at nearby hospitals, Legaci — whose identity was later confirmed by the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office — passed away. Her father is expected to survive.
Investigators believe the shooting began moments after the father had buckled Legaci into her safety seat and entered the vehicle. As he started the car to depart, gunfire erupted. In the chaos, he attempted to remove his daughter and flee toward their home, but she was struck before he could reach safety. “We don’t know at what point she was struck, whether inside the vehicle or not,” said Lieutenant Eric Sheldon of the Dayton Police Department. “But gunfire erupted while she was seated in the vehicle, and he was preparing to depart.”
The vehicle itself bore numerous bullet holes, and the scene was caked in trauma. Investigators have been interviewing witnesses and scouring the area for shell casings, but as of now, there’s no confirmed suspect. Detectives are exploring whether the attack was targeted, though no evidence suggests the father fired back. The motive remains unknown.
Over the weekend, more than 100 people gathered in Dayton to honor Legaci’s life. Balloons were released skyward. In sobs and quiet memories, her 10-year-old cousin, Princetyn Daniels, recalled their arguments over candy and insisted: “She was only five — this should not be going on.” Dayton’s mayor, community leaders, and local advocacy groups also attended, framing her death as a symbol of the urgent need to stem gun violence.
At the memorial, survivor and activist Dion Green—a witness to historic gun violence in Dayton—spoke of healing and the power of community: “We’ve got to start loving ourselves… the community is behind you.” Meanwhile, the city is expanding prevention efforts. Just this month, Dayton’s City Commission approved a $473,000 contract with the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association to launch a violence-interruption program grounded in proven outreach models.
In her short five years, Legaci became a stark reminder of too many broken systems — the ones that are supposed to protect our children, but often fail when they matter most. Her family, neighbors, and the entire Dayton community are now left grappling with that question her father asked in terror: What did they do to my baby? The investigation continues, and police urge anyone with information to call 937-333-1232 or use anonymous tips via Miami Valley Crime Stoppers at 937-222-STOP.