San Bernardino woke up to heartbreak after 19-year-old Niliyah Montgomery was shot and killed just steps from her home on the 1600 block of West Concord Street. It happened on February 1, 2026, in a place where she should have felt safest. By night’s end, a young mother was gone, and a family was shattered.
Police say the moments leading up to the shooting were tense and fast-moving. An argument broke out and escalated into a physical confrontation. During that struggle, Niliyah was shot in the back. The violence ended as suddenly as it began, leaving neighbors stunned and scrambling to help.
Paramedics rushed Niliyah to a nearby hospital. Doctors fought to save her. She did not survive. Investigators are treating the case as a homicide, and the search for clear answers continues.
Beyond the police tape and flashing lights is a life that meant everything to the people who loved her. Niliyah was a mother to a 3-year-old daughter. Friends describe her as caring and present, someone who showed up for her family and carried a quiet strength.
Her death has rippled through the neighborhood. Candles, prayers, and soft conversations have replaced the normal sounds of the street. For many, the grief is mixed with fear and anger that such violence could claim someone so young, so close to home.
San Bernardino police are urging anyone who saw what happened, or who knows something that could help, to come forward. Even small details matter, detectives say. The goal is accountability and justice for a family that deserves the truth.
As the community mourns, the focus turns to Niliyah’s daughter and those left behind. They are leaning on one another, holding tight to memories and love. Niliyah Montgomery’s life was brief, but her impact was real, and her name will not be forgotten.
