13-Year-Old Jaleeyah Tune Killed Just Days Before Christmas – Details

She survived her first Christmas as a premature baby. Thirteen years later, she would not survive her last, gunned down in cold blood just four days before the holiday she loved most.

Thirteen-year-old Jaleeyah Tune was fatally shot in broad daylight on Sunday, December 21, 2025, in what authorities are calling a deliberate and devastating act of violence.

Goldsboro Police officers rushed to the 200 block of Alpha Court around 4:35 p.m. after frantic 911 calls reported gunfire. There, they discovered the lifeless body of the seventh-grade student, struck by a bullet and pronounced dead at the scene.

Police Say Teen Trio Ambushed Innocent Girls

In the hours that followed, three teenage boys — one just 15 and the others only 16 — were swiftly arrested. All three are now facing first-degree murder and felony conspiracy charges.

The city's Criminal Investigations Division is continuing to unravel what led to the shocking slaying of a child in what should have been the most joyful season of the year.

'She Is My Miracle Baby': Mother Speaks Through Tears About Her Christmas Angel

While others were wrapping gifts and lighting trees, Jaleeyah's mother, Whitney Brown-Tune, found herself making funeral arrangements for her youngest daughter.

"She is my miracle baby," Brown-Tune told ABC11, her voice heavy with grief. "She was born premature. She came home in 2012 right before Christmas, and now she's leaving right before Christmas."

Still beneath her tree sit unopened presents, haunting reminders of a daughter who will never unwrap them. Described as a bubbly, smart, and kind-hearted helper, Jaleeyah, lovingly nicknamed "Lee Lee," was remembered by family as a tiny fighter who defied the odds at birth, weighing just two pounds.

"She just had this personality that we aren't going to get back," her mother said.

'There Was Blood All on My Hands': Teen Sister's Devastating Account of Her Final Moments

Jaleeyah's older sister, 14-year-old J'Sheeyah Tune, recounted the harrowing moment her world changed forever.

The sisters had gone out to grab food and were walking home when, without warning, a group of unfamiliar boys jumped out from behind nearby bushes and opened fire.

"I held her in her last moments," J'Sheeyah bravely shared. "She looked so scared. I was scared myself. I hate to see her like that. There was blood all on my hands. I didn't want to wipe it off. I still felt her presence. I felt her still with me."

Wearing her sister's favorite hoodie, J'Sheeyah said . "She didn't deserve this at all. People are very cruel. Now, I have to live on without my sister."

Community Mourns as GoFundMe Surpasses $12K for Burial and Tribute

As the city reels from the tragic loss, a GoFundMe campaign in Jaleeyah's honor has already raised more than $12,000 of its $14,000 goal.

Describing her as a "bright and loving 13-year-old," the page mourns a life "tragically cut short by gun violence just days before Christmas." It calls her death "especially devastating during a time that should be filled with love and togetherness."

Another Family Shattered: One Week Earlier, Tragedy Struck Half a World Away

Just one week before Jaleeyah's killing, another family across the globe was left shattered by an equally senseless act, a peaceful beach day turned violent in an instant.

They didn't flinch. They didn't hesitate. When the couple saw something wrong on that ordinary Sunday afternoon, they acted... and unfortunately, paid with their lives.

Boris and Sofia Gurman, a Russian-Jewish couple from Sydney, Australia, had been near the iconic Bondi Beach when a parked car with something odd on the windshield, and a man with a rifle stopped them in their tracks.

Within moments, they became the first victims of what would spiral into Australia's deadliest mass shooting since Port Arthur in 1996. Now, as the nation mourns, their family has broken their silence, honoring two of the bravest souls who refused to stand by and let evil win.

A Final Act of Courage on the Boulevard

It was the afternoon of December 14, 2025. The couple had been walking together along Campbell Parade, unaware that their final moments were minutes away.

That's when they saw Sajid Akram step out of his hatchback with a rifle in hand and also an Islamic State flag spread across his windshield.

Without hesitation, Boris, 69, lunged forward. Several dashcams captured the chilling sequence. He tackled the 50-year-old suspect right behind the car parked in the bustling beachside road, successfully knocking the gun from his hands.

For a brief moment, it looked like Boris had saved the day. He picked up the rifle and aimed it at Sajid, standing his ground as cars passed. Sofia rushed to his side, supporting him in the desperate attempt to stop what was unfolding.

But Sajid wasn't finished. He charged again, this time pulling out another rifle. In the horrifying seconds that followed, Boris and Sofia were shot at close range. They died there, on the sidewalk, in each other's arms.

Remembering the Couple's Devotion and Sacrifice

Their loved ones have now spoken to the Sydney Morning Herald, sharing their heartbreak in a joint statement.

"They had been married for 34 years, with their 35th wedding anniversary approaching in January. We were looking forward to celebrating Sofia's 62nd birthday on Wednesday 17th of December," they said.

Boris, a retired mechanic, was remembered for always helping others. Sofia, who worked at Australia Post, was adored by coworkers and neighbors alike.

"Boris and Sofia were devoted to their family and to each other. They were the heart of our family, and their absence has left an immeasurable void," their loved ones continued.

They had seen the footage. They had watched Boris and Sofia do what few would dare to do: confront a man with a gun. While the pain is unimaginable, the family expressed immense pride in their final moments, which so perfectly reflected who they were: brave, selfless, and full of love.

They also thanked the public for the outpouring of support and requested privacy as they grieve.

Tributes and the Others Who Fought Back

A Sydney resident uploaded her dashcam footage to Rednote, writing that heroes like Boris and Sofia could never be forgotten. That same sentiment was echoed on December 16, when a group of Sofia's coworkers gathered at Bondi Pavilion. Each one brought a white rose and a card.

"It's very tragic, and seeing this video made us realise just how brave she and her husband was [sic]," one colleague said quietly.

Boris and Sofia weren't the only ones who stepped in to stop the violence.

Ahmed al-Ahmed also tackled Sajid during the rampage and managed to seize one of the weapons. He was shot multiple times in the struggle and remains in critical but stable condition at St. George Hospital.

Another man, Reuven Morrison, was identified by his daughter as the person who threw an object at one of the shooters. He was killed in the chaos, but his daughter proudly praised his courage.

During the police confrontation, Sajid was shot and killed at the scene. His 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, who was the other shooter that day, survived with life-threatening injuries and remains hospitalized.

Key Details About the Bondi Shooting

Crowds had gathered at Sydney's Bondi Beach for an event marking the first day of Hanukkah, drawing families, locals, and tourists to the waterfront. Within moments, the calm was shattered by gunfire.

Police later confirmed that at least 15 people were killed and 27 others were hospitalized, including about a dozen in critical condition, after the mass shooting erupted at the popular beachside location. With the scale of the violence becoming clear, police began releasing details about those they believed were responsible.

The Surviving Suspect Was Known to Authorities

As the investigation widened, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese disclosed that Naveed had previously come to the attention of authorities but was not assessed as a threat at the time.

"He was examined on the basis of being associated with others, and the assessment was made that there was no indication of any ongoing threat or threat of him engaging in violence," Anthony said during a news conference on Monday.

The head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organization, Mike Burgess, also confirmed the same individual had earlier appeared on the agency's radar.

"One of the individuals was known to us but not in an immediate threat perspective, so obviously we need to look into what happened here," Mike said. Those revelations intensified scrutiny of the motive behind the shooting and how authorities classified it.

Officials Say the Bondi Beach Shooting Was Terrorism

Officials have declared the shooting a terrorist event and described it as "designed to target" Jewish people. The timing of the violence, coinciding with a Hanukkah gathering, quickly raised alarm among national security officials.

CNN reported that the attack targeted Jewish families on one of the most festive days of the Jewish calendar, intensifying fears that the violence was ideologically motivated. Beyond the security and political implications, the human toll of the attack continued to come into focus.

In the days since, flowers and candles have turned public spaces into places of mourning, marking lives lost, final acts of courage, and a community grappling with lasting grief.