Trial to begin for man accused of killing Lauderhill mother

Nicole Grier, 19, shot multiple times while putting son in car

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A South Florida man accused of fatally shooting a 19-year-old mother in 2013 while her infant was in her car is going on trial.

Jury selection began Monday morning in the trial of Jalil Allen.

Nicole Grier's mother, Tamela Watson, fondly remembered her 19-year-old daughter before the trial.

"Time goes by and people tend to forget the victim," Watson said. "No matter what she did in the past, my daughter had a great heart."

Grier was picking up her 11-month-old son in Lauderhill a few days after Christmas in 2013 when she was shot by someone in a passing car.

According to witnesses, Grier was ambushed and shot at least six times at close range while she was placing her son, Jacari, in the back seat of her car.

A week after Grier's murder, Lauderhill police arrested Allen, 28, who is charged with premeditated murder.

"I want justice for my daughter," Watson said. "You don't get a pass. I'm here for a purpose. He took my daughter, so I'm going to every court date you have. Every chance for you to have to look at my face, I'm going to be there."

Watson is raising her daughter's son, who is now 2 years old.

"I'm starting motherhood all over again," Watson said. "To lose my child and to have to take care of him has been heartbreaking for me."

Allen's trial is expected to begin later this week.

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