Family Pleads for Justice After 16-Year-Old Girl Shot and Killed in Fort Lauderdale
Tragic Loss
A family is reeling in grief after a 16-year-old girl, Taneajah Atterbury, was shot and killed in Fort Lauderdale on Monday night. According to her mother, Shraday Heller, Taneajah was in the wrong place at the wrong time, watching as several people fought on Northwest 8th Avenue.
The Shooting
Heller described the moment when the shooting occurred: "Someone pulled out a gun and started shooting. Seconds later, I saw my daughter on the ground." Atterbury was rushed to the hospital, but tragically, she later succumbed to her injuries.
A Mother’s Grief
Heller recalled the devastating moment when she saw her daughter injured: "All I thought, my baby, was they hit her, but when I picked her up, I saw the blood, and she said, ‘Mommy, I’m OK, I’m OK.’ As a mother, I had to see my child bleeding, and that hurts me."
A Family in Mourning
Taneajah was a loving, high-achieving student and a good girl, with a bright future ahead of her. Her family is now left to pick up the pieces and search for answers. "My baby didn’t deserve this, y’all shot at my child, my child was laying on the ground fighting for her life and she couldn’t fight no more," Heller said, her voice heavy with grief.
A Community in Shock
The family is joined by the community in their outrage and sadness. "It’s ridiculous how these young kids with guns shoot just to show what they can do, it caused a family to be broken," said Angeletta Thomas-Keel, Taneajah’s grandmother. "These young people think they can pick up a gun and think it’s OK, they don’t know we’re hurting," added Shanell Heller, Taneajah’s aunt.
A Plea for Justice
The family is now pleading for justice and an end to gun violence. "This gun violence needs to stop, to all these young kids, y’all have to stop," Heller said. "Y’all took my child from me." The family is urging anyone with information to come forward and help detectives piece together the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Conclusion
The tragic loss of Taneajah Atterbury is a sobering reminder of the devastating impact of gun violence on families and communities. As the investigation continues, the family’s plea for justice and an end to this senseless violence echoes through the streets of Fort Lauderdale.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened to Taneajah Atterbury?
Taneajah Atterbury, a 16-year-old girl, was shot and killed in Fort Lauderdale on Monday night. - Who is responsible for the shooting?
The shooter is still at large, and police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. - What is the family’s reaction?
The family is in mourning, and they are pleading for justice and an end to gun violence. - How can I help?
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Fort Lauderdale Police immediately.
