The FBI has announced a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the shooting death of 9-year-old Markiya Dickson, who was shot and killed May 26 as she played at a Memorial Day Weekend community cookout at Carter Jones Park in South Side.

“We had a request from the Richmond Police Department to join the investigation,” David W. Archey, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Richmond field office, said during a news conference Tuesday at Richmond Police headquarters.

“The two big factors for the FBI supporting the RPD in the Dickson case were the shooting took place in a public park and the victims were juveniles; a violent attack in a public park. Since that day, the Richmond Police Department has worked around the clock to identify the people responsible for this senseless act and this tragic death,” Special Agent Archey said.

He said the FBI felt this case is important to solve and to convict the person or people responsible, therefore “we came forward with the reward at the request of Richmond Police.”

He stressed the need for solid leads and witnesses in order to find and prosecute the perpetrators in Markiya’s death.

“The department wants to hear from witnesses who took video in the park that day,” Richmond Police Chief Will Smith said. “We need everyone’s support to solve this case. However, it will not bring Markiya back. It will provide justice for the family.” He said the department has developed a list of suspects, but still needs witnesses to come forward.

He said Markiya and 11-year-old Jaquez Moses, who was shot and wounded, were caught in the crossfire of a gunfight in the park located in the 2800 block of Bainbridge Street.

“There were two groups fighting and there was more than one gunman,” Richmond Police Lt. Faith Filippo said during the news conferences. “We’re asking for eyewitnesses to come forward and say, ‘I saw that person with a gun.’ This will help us link all of the pieces together. That is the right thing to do.”

In June, police released descriptions of three young African-American men wanted in connection with the shootings. One was wearing no shirt and a white towel or T-shirt on his head. He is believed to have shoulder-length braids or dreadlocks. The second suspect, said to have a medium build and short-cropped hair, was wearing a blue shirt and grey or dark pants. The third was wearing all dark clothing.

“There were two groups fighting and there was more than one gunman,” Richmond Police Lt. Faith Filippo said during the news conferences. “We’re asking for eyewitnesses to come forward and say, ‘I saw that person with a gun.’ This will help us link all of the pieces together. That is the right thing to do.”

In June, police released descriptions of three young African-American men wanted in connection with the shootings. One was wearing no shirt and a white towel or T-shirt on his head. He is believed to have shoulder-length braids or dreadlocks. The second suspect, said to have a medium build and short-cropped hair, was wearing a blue shirt and grey or dark pants. The third was wearing all dark clothing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI at https://tips.fbi.gov or (804) 261-1044.