Grief Counselors Help Students At Hempstead School After Death Of Girl Hit By Stray Bullet
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Grief counselors helped students at a Nassau County school Monday after one of their classmates was killed by a stray bullet inside her own home.
Twelve-year-old Dejah Joyner died Saturday night after authorities said a gunman outside her Hempstead home fired a shot at someone on the street Friday afternoon and missed.
The bullet smashed through the front window, hitting the girl in the head.
When students arrived at Hempstead Middle School on Monday, they felt a sense of reluctance walking in the building, CBS2's Ilana Gold reported.
Dejah's best friend, Chloe Taylor, had four classes with her, and they sat together during math, Gold reported.
"Nobody wanted to come to school today. They texted me … said they don't want to be here. It's not going to be the same without Dejah," Taylor said.
Taylor and her father had just seen Dejah hours before the shooting, Gold reported.
Dejah wore a pink crown on her birthday two weeks ago, on Monday a pink banner went up at the girl's middle school, CBS2's Jennifer McLogan reported.
Parents said their children were too young to be exposed to such violence and death.
"It's disgusting there are so many guns out here and anyone can get killed at the drop of a dime. It's unbelievable," said parent Rozelle Taylor.
Principal Noel Rios said he remembers seeing Dejah just a couple of weeks ago happily celebrating her 12th birthday.
"When I saw her in the hallway, she said, 'It's my birthday, Mr. Rios! You gonna say happy birthday?' This was the type of personality that she had, and she had that spunky attitude," Rios said.
"She was always making other students laugh," school psychologist Gabrielle Kirby said.
Police said Dejah was not the intended target and say the shot likely happened during a gang-related argument or drive-by shooting.
Friends said Dejah had attended Girl Scouts and was dancing in the hallway earlier in the day.
"On Friday, she was sitting in front of me and we were playing games, and we were just talking," Merary Navarry said.
A crisis team has been at the middle school helping the community cope with this tragedy, Gold reported.
"Some of the students who live close to her -- their fear is 'I live down the street that could have been me,'" said School Social Worker Cherie Dortch.
"Right now the best thing we can do is be there for them, give them the hugs that they need and that we too are feeling in their pain," Rios said.
Dejah has a sister and brother at Hempstead High School.
"The varsity football team, they honored her. Her brother plays on the football team, they dedicated the game," Associate Superintendent James Clark said.
During a weekend vigil for her parents, a stunned community vowed to stick together for change.
"We have to bring this person to justice, so I believe the community, if they know anything will speak up," Hempstead School Board President Lamont Johnson said.
Community members are urging anyone to come forward with information.
"People know, but no one's going to be saying much," said resident Michael Rashad. "It's really rare that things get solved here."
There are 122 police officers in a village of 55,000. The mayor said they can't combat gang crime without the help of residents.
"We become the eyes and ears of the police and work in conjunction with them, check on our kids," Mayor Wayne Hall said.
Police have also been handing out flyers offering a $75,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest. Anyone with information is asked to call 800-244-TIPS (8477).
Nassau County's acting police commissioner, Thomas Krumpter, said Monday catching the culprit is the department's top priority.
He said detectives have received a "significant number" of tips. But Krumpter said progress was being made "very slowly."
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