| Brave New World's New Documentary Project: The DC Sniper Story Untold |
 October 26, 2009 - Seattle, Wash. - This past Thursday BNW President/CEO, Shyan Selah, and Isa Nichols, author, domestic abuse survivor and the first targeted victim of DC Sniper John Muhammad, sat down for a press conference with local Washington state media to discuss a key aspect of the DC Sniper case and to formerly recognize October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
During the conference Ms. Nichols introduced her memoir, Genesis: The Bullet Was Meant for Me, the DC Sniper Story Untold, and made the Seattle media aware of major facts to the DC Sniper story that were previously unknown - primarily because, until recently, she wasn't ready to tell of those facts. Ms. Nichols was the first targeted victim of John Muhammad as retaliation for her support and assistance in helping Muhammad's wife, Mildred, regain custody of her children and escape Muhammad's abuse. However, it was Nichols' niece, Keenya Cook, who was the first person to die at the hands of Lee Malvo. Malvo was ordered by Muhammad to go to Nichols' Tacoma home and shoot her as part of an "initiation killing." It is thought that Malvo, who had never before met Nichols, assumed he had shot the right person when Nichols' 21-year-old niece, and mother of a six month old baby girl, opened the door. It would be months before anyone made the connection between this horrific and seemingly random killing and the "terrorist attack" that shook Washington D.C. residents in 2002.
"John had sent him up to my door to shoot me, but because he did not know me he shot Keenya," said Ms. Nichols during the press conference. "Shot her point-blank in the face with a .45 caliber handgun." Nichols and her 14 year old daughter discovered Cook's body when she returned home from the store that evening.
 And even now most are not aware of the role domestic abuse and domestic violence played an early part in this story. Mildred Muhammad suffered abuse at the hands of John Muhammad, Keenya Cook was staying with her aunt Isa in order to leave a domestically violent situation, and through her recovery of these horrific and tragic events, Ms. Nichols was also forced to come to grips with her own suffering of emotional and mental abuse within her marriage.
Now, Shyan Selah and Brave New World will be bringing this dynamic story to the screen as a documentary based on Ms. Nichols' recount in Genesis. Selah, who is in the process of recording his new album to be released through Bungalo/Universal in Spring 2010, looks forward to this documentary as his directorial and producer debut.
"I'm compelled to work on behalf of bettering humanity," said Selah. "This is a story of human interest. To be a part of it in any fashion is humbling, yet necessary. I'm excited to go to work on this."
For more information on Isa Nichols and Genesis: The Bullet Was Meant for Me, The DC Sniper Story Untold, please visit Ms. Nichols foundation's website: www.jireh-shalom.org. |
About Brave New World, Inc
Brave New World is a multi-faceted entertainment business services organization with a philosophy dedicated to philanthropy and community outreach. It has partnered with multiple community organizations to build customized outreach programs including benefit concerts, student workshops and youth seminars.
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