The family of Darien Richardson walked in Portland on Saturday in memory of the young woman more than five years after her still-unsolved slaying, WCSH-TV reported.

Richardson, 25, was shot on Jan. 8, 2010, in her Portland apartment. Richardson initially survived wounds to her thigh and hand, but died on Feb. 28, 2010, while visiting a friend in Miami. Authorities said her death was from pulmonary embolism was caused by her injuries.

Richardson boyfriend, Cory Girard was shot in the arm during the incident and survived. Police believe the shooting was related to illicit sales of the drug OxyContin, but Girard has denied knowing who shot the couple. He was arrested last November on a charge of possessing a firearm while being an unlawful user of marijuana. The charge covers several months, including the night he and Richardson were shot.

Richardson’s family and friends gathered Saturday for an annual walk to raise money for victims of violent crimes, according to WCSH. The family has also lobbied on behalf of laws to expand background checks for purchases of firearms. The federal law is stuck in Congress and a similar law in Maine was passed by the Legislature but vetoed by Gov. Paul LePage, the Portland TV station said.

The Legislature approved the framework for a cold case unit last year to investigate the more than 100 unsolved homicides in Maine, but said funding would have to come from federal grants, which failed to materialize. Supporters are back this year to ask the Legislature to pay for the unit, and pressing LePage to maintain the commitment that he has voiced in favor of funding it.

Correction: This story was updated at 12:27 p.m. on Saturday, April 4 to clarify who lived in the Portland apartment and to correct Richardson’s cause of death.


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