NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Investigators confirmed on Friday that the group of men who killed a 12-year-old girl early Thursday morning specifically targeted her house.

Police said a group of men broke into the back door of a house on Maury Street just south of downtown around 1 a.m. on Thursday.

A resident of the home, Shannon Hooten, 45, reported that she heard loud banging coming from her kitchen and went to investigate.

Hooten told police she was met by four or five young black men dressed in white T-shirts and blue jeans who ordered her back to her bedroom. Police said at least two of the men had guns and most of them knew the area.

As Hooten was calling police, she said she heard several shots.

Hooten then discovered that her 12-year-old granddaughter, Mikia Woodland, had been shot. The child was rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

Detectives believe Mikia was shot as she went to check on the commotion at the home.

"We feel (the people responsible may be) involved in some other criminal activity in that area," said Metro Police Sgt. John Patton.

Three other people -- Hooten's 28-year-old son, and two children, ages five and 10 -- were also in the home at the time of the shooting. No one else inside the home was hurt.

Witnesses in the area reported seeing the home invaders running from the rear of the home toward Interstate 40.

It was unclear if anything was taken from the home by the intruders.

“We're not going to give a motive right now, but we do know this was not a random act," said Patton.

Police believe Mikia, a student at Donelson Middle School, was not a specific target. The child's family said she was a good student who dreamed of being a lawyer.

Police are investigating the case. No arrests have been made.

"This is not only a crime against that family and against that kid, but it's also a crime against all the kids in this city and this county. These kids deserve better than that," said Patton.