BAYTOWN, Texas (KHOU) – The grieving family members of a 14-year-old Texas girl who police say was shot and killed by a classmate are speaking out and demanding justice.
Together with friends and loved ones, the family of 14-year-old Anaya “Naya” Zachary sent dozens of purple balloons —the teenager’s favorite color – into the air to honor her memory Saturday evening.
Police say Anaya was fatally shot by a teenage boy, her classmate at Baytown Junior School, on the playground of her apartment complex around 4 p.m. Friday after returning from school. The incident allegedly stemmed from an altercation between the two on the bus earlier in the day.
“I was told that he told Naya, ‘When I get off the bus, I’m going to kill you today,’” said Sonya Stanford, Anaya’s godmother, who helped raise the 14-year-old.
Police say the suspect later came to the playground and started shooting.
Anaya’s father, Joseph Zachary, says he knew there was a student who would pick on his daughter, but he never thought it would end like this.
“I guess it kept escalating or something. I don’t know what’s going on. They’re telling me it’s a school thing. I’m not sure what it is. But I know I came here yesterday, and my child was dead, laying out there in the parking lot,” Zachary said.
Stanford says Naya had so much potential.
“She’d give you no problems. ‘Yes ma’am, no ma’am.’ All Naya wanted to do was get in her books, learn, graduate and go on about her life,” she said.
Though heartbroken, Stanford extended forgiveness to the teenage suspect. His parents, she says, are another story.
“I forgive the little boy. I’m very disappointed in his parents because your parent skills are not right at all. But as for the little boy, I forgive him,” she said.
Relatives have started an online fundraiser to help with funeral expenses as they plan to take Anaya’s body back to Louisiana, where she was raised.
The suspect is currently in custody, but police have not released his name due to his age. It’s not clear yet what charges he could face or if his parents will be charged.
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