Texas Girl, 14, Shot 4 Times by Classmate Following School Dispute in Baytown: Authorities

Miami Standard (Baytown, TX) – A 14-year-old girl in Texas was allegedly gunned down by a classmate after a verbal altercation on their school bus, with detectives alleging he shot her twice in the back as she tried to flee and twice more after she fell to the ground.

“He went home, put on all black, put on a black mask, and came back and called my baby’s name and he shot my baby four times,” Anaya Zachary’s godmother, Sonya Stanford, told local NBC affiliate KPRC last week about the girl’s shooting death on March 21 in the city of Baytown, which is about 25 miles east of Houston.

“She tried to turn around and run and he shot her twice in the back,” Anaya’s cousin, Janet Zachery, told the ABC affiliate KTRK. “And then when she fell, he shot her two more times,” Janet said.

The 13-year-old suspect, who has not been identified by authorities due to his age, allegedly had a violent argument with Anaya on their school bus earlier that day. The children attended Baytown Junior School, which is part of Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District (CISD).

Stanford told local CBS affiliate KHOU that the youngster had allegedly threatened Anaya before the incident.

“I was told that he told Naya, ‘When I get out the bus, I’m going to kill you today,'” Stanford complained. She stated that after returning home from school that day, Anaya asked her if she could go outside to see her “little sister” and play on the playground at their apartment complex.

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“She never told me about an altercation or anything,” Stanford recalled.

Anaya’s father, Joseph Zachary, told KHOU that the facts of the fight between his daughter and the gunman are unclear at the moment.

“They’re telling me it’s a school thing, I’m not sure what it is,” he said. “But I know I came here yesterday and my child was dead laying in the parking lot.”

The Baytown Police Department issued a press statement stating that police were summoned to an apartment complex in the 4600 block of Village Lane on March 21 after receiving allegations of a shooting at the playground. “Upon arrival, they found a female teen near the playground with a gunshot wound,” the officers added. “Officers immediately began life-saving measures until medics arrived, and she was transported to a local hospital where she was later pronounced deceased.”

A female bystander who was at the playground with her child and was holding her baby at the time of the incident was also injured by the fired ammunition, according to BPD officials. “Both the female bystander and her baby were taken to the hospital for evaluation and were later cleared of any injuries,” according to law enforcement.

The teen suspect was apprehended and detained at the Harris County Juvenile Detention Centre on Monday, where he was charged with murder. The matter is still being investigated as police look into what else could have caused the shooting.

“This tragic incident has deeply affected our community,” said BPD Chief John Stringer in a statement last week. “Our officers responded quickly, providing aid and securing the scene. As we continue to investigate, our thoughts are with the victim’s family and all those impacted by this senseless act of violence. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of peaceful conflict resolution and the severe consequences that violence can have.”