The recent tragedy has sparked even more debate on the need to reform current gun laws
A shocking case comes out of Tennessee as an 11-year-old shoots 8-year-old girl after the latter refused to show him her small pet dog. McKayla Dyer was playing outside on Saturday when the neighbors’ 11-year-old son came by and asked if he could see her pet. The boy then quickly shot her in the chest at point blank, according to McKayla’s mother, Latasha.
She has further stated that the 11-year-old has been bullying her daughter ever since they moved in, making fun of her, calling her names and displaying a general aggressive behavior. Over time, the bullying has stopped as McKayla complained about several incidents to her parents, teachers and even the school principal.
There were suspicions that the neighbors’ boy still held negative feelings towards McKayla, but nobody could have predicted that this would go as far as child murder. During interviews with the press, in front of her mobile home, a grieving Latasha Dyer, overwhelmed with sorrow, revealed her true feelings to reporters.
Latasha talked about how deeply she misses her little girl and the need to hold the child in her arms again. She went on to urge parents everywhere to cherish every moment with their children, as they have no guarantee their family will still be intact the next day.
The boy has already been charged with first degree murder and taken to a juvenile detention center. The first hearing of his trial is scheduled for October 28.
Authorities have refused to release his identity to the public, as of this point, although there are speculations that he might be tried as an adult for the heinous crime he has committed. Discussions with the prosecution are already underway for this possibility.
McKayla’s family has created a GoFundMe page to raise money for a memorial honoring their lost child. Because of the horrifying nature of the event and the fact that the boy used a 12 gauge shotgun to carry out the murder, the case of McKayla Dyer has added fuel to the fire in an already increasingly heavy debate on gun violence and accessibility to firearms.
It comes at a time when many activists and high political figures alike, including President Barack Obama, have urged reform on current gun laws, after the shooting at Umpqua Community College, in Oregon. Even though the opposition is strong on the matter, tragedies such as this one further prove that the current system is problematic and the time for change is long overdue.
Photo Credits: Flickr
