SALISBURY, N.C. — Salisbury Police posted a plea on Facebook Wednesday in the hopes of solving the murder of a little girl.
"Please help us bring to justice who murdered this beautiful child," the post read.
NBC Charlotte updated the story of A'yanna Allen last Friday. Police said they’re using new technology to try to make an arrest in the cold case.
"She was a bubbly, smiley little girl; she didn’t meet no strangers," said April Woodberry, Allen's maternal grandmother.
The 7-year-old was shot in December 2016, killed in a hail of bullets as she slept inside her paternal grandmother's house. The autopsy showed Allen had 20 gunshot wounds. She was hit at least 13 times.
"I remember going in the house and it being full of gun smoke," said Sgt. Travis Schulenberger.
Now a $20,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest.
"It is impossible for her family or the officers/detectives that have investigated this case from day one to sleep knowing that there is someone out there that is free that is responsible for her death," the Facebook post read.
Allens' grandmother is convinced the shooting was in retaliation for another murder that happened about a mile away. Sharod Mathis, 22, was killed at FireWater Restaurant and Lounge.
"We do know this is connected to the murder that happened earlier in the night at Firewater," Schulenberger said.
That case is also unsolved.
If you have any information on either investigation, call Sgt. Shulenberger at 704-638-5333. You may also send a private message or go through Crime Stoppers.