FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — A community is in mourning and a family is demanding answers following the tragic death of a 16-year-old girl, who succumbed to gunshot wounds early Tuesday morning in a local hospital after being caught in gunfire in Fort Lauderdale the previous night.
Sharday Heller, the victim’s mother, shared her grief, recalling her daughter’s final words. “She assured me she was okay,” Heller recounted, grappling with the reality that those would be the last words she would hear from her daughter, Tanasia Atterberry.
The incident occurred Monday evening during a tumultuous scene on Northwest Eighth Avenue near 16th Street, an area that became chaotic as several altercations among young girls reportedly broke out. During these altercations, gunfire erupted, striking Atterberry, who authorities and witnesses claim was not directly involved in the conflicts.
Devastated by the loss, Heller expressed her despair and quest for justice. She lamented the senseless violence that took her daughter’s life, emphasizing Tanasia’s innocence and youthful age. “You all had no right to shoot my baby,” Heller said through tears, echoing a mother’s profound pain and the broader community’s outrage.
According to law enforcement officials and medical personnel, Atterberry was hit in the upper body and was quickly transported to Broward Health Medical Center, where she later died.
Although the Fort Lauderdale Police have initiated an investigation, no arrests have been made, and the authorities have yet to release a description of the suspected shooter. The lack of immediate progress in the case adds to the family’s anguish and the community’s growing frustration.
Witnesses at the scene underscored that Atterberry was merely present in the vicinity and was not participating in the violence. “It was a fight that had nothing to do with her; she was just standing there,” said one bystander, highlighting the randomness and tragedy of the incident.
Tanasia, a ninth grader, is remembered by her family as a joyful presence in their lives, fond of dancing and making videos with her siblings. These memories bring some comfort to the family, who are simultaneously calling for justice to be served.
Shantell Heller, Tanasia’s aunt, expressed a resilient belief in the justice system, hinting at the community’s collective resolve to see the perpetrator held accountable. “He will face justice,” she firmly stated, reflecting both a hope and a demand for resolution.
The family and authorities urge anyone with information about the shooting to contact Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477. Calls can be made anonymously, and the community’s assistance is crucial in aiding the ongoing investigation.
As the investigation continues, the community remains hopeful yet anxious, awaiting justice for a young life cut tragically short, as they rally around a grieving family left to navigate the aftermath of a senseless tragedy.