Tenn. Mom Fatally Shoots Her Daughter, 13, While Looking for Keys in Her Purse, She Says
De’Ann Radley told Nashville police that the pistol discharge that killed her teen daughter Dearria was "an accident"
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A mother fatally shot her 13-year-old daughter in what she claimed was an accidental shooting.
According to the Nashville Metropolitan Police Department, on Saturday night just before 10 p.m., authorities responded to a shooting at the house of De’Ann Radley and her daughter Dearria. The teenage girl was taken to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.
“The mother of a 13-year-old girl who was fatally shot Saturday night inside their Edgehill Avenue home is reporting that the pistol discharge was an accident,” per the NMPD. “In an interview at police headquarters, Dearria’s mother told detectives that her unholstered .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol was in her purse with other items.”
“She said it went off as she was attempting to retrieve her keys from the purse,” the statement continued.
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De’Ann expressed her grief on Facebook, and also went live for over two minutes to talk to her followers.
“My heart hurts,” De’Ann said tearfully, later adding, “I hope no person has to ever go through what I’m going through.”
She also made a post dedicated to her daughter with a collection of photos of Dearria.
“HUG YOUR BABIES TIGHT BC I LOST MINE, WORDS CANT DESCRIBE THIS PAIN MY OLDEST MY TWIN MY MY BABY WAS SO BEAUTIFUL,” she captioned it. “GOD GIVE ME THE STRENGTH I WOULDNT WISH THIS PAIN ON ANYONE MY HEART IS IN A MILLION PIECES. BUG WAKE UP MOMMY NEEDS YOU 13 YEARS BABY 13 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH TOGETHER WHO IS GOING TO TELL ME MOMMA ITS GONE BE OKAY AND HUGGING ME AND WIPING MY TEARS AWA.”
She continued: “DEARRIA I NEED YOU I CANT DO THIS BUG I LOVE YOU SO SO MUCH.”
De’Ann also shared a GoFundMe page to raise money for her daughter’s funeral.
“My 13 year old was accidentally shot and killed, I dont have insurance to bury her,” it reads. “If anyone can help me during these painful times. I would gladly appreciate your contribution god bless you.”
As of Monday, $2,485 of the $15,000 goal has been raised.
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No charges have been filed but the investigation is still open, according to police.
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