Faith Kinaya Gumma was a 31-year-old mother from Sterling Heights, Michigan, who was killed on August 12, 2023, when a 16-year-old driver fleeing a Sterling Heights police traffic stop ran a red light at nearly 90 mph and struck her family’s SUV. She was pregnant at the time, and her unborn child also died. Her husband Norman was left paralyzed, and their two-year-old son Elijah was seriously injured. The driver, Travion Smith, was convicted of second-degree murder in July 2025 and sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison.
What Happened on August 12, 2023
Around 9:30 p.m., Sterling Heights officers noticed a tan Chevrolet Equinox traveling northbound on Van Dyke Avenue near 15 Mile Road with its left-turn signal on for about a mile, which they treated as a possible sign of an impaired driver.1Macomb Daily. Support Shown for Sterling Heights Family Involved in Tragic Crash A LEIN check showed the vehicle was uninsured, and officers moved to make a stop.2Macomb Daily. Young Driver Gets 25 Years in Crash That Killed Sterling Heights Woman, Gravely Injured Husband
The driver, Travion Smith of Detroit, took off. He ran three red lights and pushed the Equinox to 93 mph, weaving between lanes. At Van Dyke and 16 Mile Road, still traveling about 88 mph, he ran another red and slammed into a GMC Terrain driven by Norman Gumma.3CBS News Detroit. Detroit Teen Convicted of Murder in Sterling Heights Crash That Killed Pregnant Mother, Unborn Child
Faith was pronounced dead at the scene, along with her unborn child. Norman, 36, suffered catastrophic injuries and became a quadriplegic. Elijah, in the back seat, was seriously hurt but recovered.2Macomb Daily. Young Driver Gets 25 Years in Crash That Killed Sterling Heights Woman, Gravely Injured Husband
Who Faith Gumma Was
Faith Kinaya Gumma was born on July 16, 1992. She was a member of the Mar Addai Chaldean Catholic Church in Oak Park, Michigan, where her resurrection mass was held, and those who knew her described her as sweet and caring.4Legacy.com. Faith Gumma Obituary She lived in Sterling Heights with Norman and Elijah and was expecting their second child.5Mercy Funeral Home. Faith Kinaya Gumma Obituary
Norman and Elijah After the Crash
Norman spent weeks in intensive care and, according to the most recent reports from the prosecutor’s office, has limited movement below the neck and communicates through eye and head movements. He remains paralyzed.6Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office. Driver Sentenced After Conviction of Second-Degree Murder, Fleeing7GoFundMe. Faith Gumma and Norm’s Recovery8Stormin Strong. Stormin Strong The organizer said medical bills exceeded $1 million by November 2023.9Detroit News. Norman Gumma Faith Accident GoFundMe Elijah eventually recovered from his injuries.
The Trial and Second-Degree Murder Conviction
Smith was charged as an adult in Macomb County. Assistant Prosecutor Steve Fox told the jury the entire tragedy was avoidable: had Smith pulled over, he would have received a ticket for driving without insurance.10WDIV ClickOnDetroit. 18-Year-Old Sentenced for Murder in Deadly Macomb County Crash That Killed Pregnant Woman Smith’s defense attorney called the crash an accident, not a planned killing, driven by an irrational fear of police. Smith testified that he was scared and did not understand why officers were following him. The defense also noted he had no alcohol or drugs in his system and no prior criminal record.
On July 24, 2025, after about three hours of deliberation, the jury convicted Smith on every count:3CBS News Detroit. Detroit Teen Convicted of Murder in Sterling Heights Crash That Killed Pregnant Mother, Unborn Child
- Second-degree murder for the death of Faith Gumma.
- Grossly negligent act causing a miscarriage for the death of her unborn child.
- Two counts of reckless driving causing serious impairment for the injuries to Norman and Elijah.
- First-degree fleeing and eluding a police officer.
Michigan’s second-degree murder statute does not require an intent to kill. Prosecutors must show the defendant acted with wanton and willful disregard of the likelihood that the natural tendency of the conduct is to cause death or great bodily harm, a standard sometimes called depraved heart malice.11Michigan Courts. People v Gafken The framework was established by the Michigan Supreme Court in People v. Goecke (1998), which requires egregious circumstances and conduct beyond ordinary recklessness. Running red lights at 88 to 93 mph while fleeing police fit that standard.
Sentencing
Macomb County Circuit Judge James Biernat Jr. sentenced Smith on August 26, 2025.2Macomb Daily. Young Driver Gets 25 Years in Crash That Killed Sterling Heights Woman, Gravely Injured Husband Victim impact statements from Faith’s best friend and her sister, Rhonda Bakoss, were read into the record. Norman was not present; prosecutors said he had been hospitalized in the days before the hearing.
Defense counsel Adil Haradhvala asked for a sentence at the bottom of the guidelines, around 20 years, citing Smith’s youth and clean record. Judge Biernat rejected that request and imposed 25 to 50 years for the murder count, with concurrent sentences of six to 15 years on the remaining counts.12WDIV ClickOnDetroit. Teen Gets 25 Years in Prison for Deadly Sterling Heights Crash
“I don’t know that I’ve encountered a more tragic case than this,” the judge said. He told Smith: “You literally wiped out a family. That poor man Norman, it’s a fate worse than death. And all you had to do was stop.” Biernat acknowledged that “16-year-old boys are dumb,” then noted that if Smith had simply pulled over he would have been “pulled over and ticketed for no insurance” and sent on his way. He closed with: “Have mercy on your soul.”
After sentencing, Smith asked the judge to set aside his conviction or grant a new trial. He has an automatic right to appeal under Michigan law.
Policy and Legislative Response
The Gumma case was among the Michigan police-pursuit fatalities that pushed both agencies and legislators to reconsider chase practices. In March 2024, the Michigan State Police amended its pursuit policy to allow vehicle chases only when there is probable cause to believe the driver committed a life-threatening or violent felony, citing national research that crashes occur in at least 30% of pursuits.13Michigan State Police. State Police Amends Policy to Restrict Pursuits
Representative Rylee Linting introduced House Bill 4690, which would set mandatory minimum prison sentences for fleeing and eluding: a 182-day minimum for less serious pursuits and up to five years for cases resulting in injury or death. Wyandotte Police Chief Archie Hamilton testified in support before the House Judiciary Committee on August 27, 2025, saying the number of drivers fleeing police had increased dramatically in the last four to five years and that restrictive pursuit policies alone were not working.14WXYZ. Michigan Lawmakers Push for Tougher Penalties on Police Pursuit Fleeing Suspects The bill has been reported out of the Judiciary Committee and awaits further legislative action.15Michigan Legislature. House Bill 4690 Analysis