‘Please don’t let her die’: Mother of 14-year-old Pottstown shooting victim describes what happened | Southeastern Pennsylvania

POTTSTOWN, Pa. – Pottstown police are still searching for the person who shot and killed a 14-year-old girl Tuesday night.

This girl is recovering in the hospital, and now we hear from her mother, who tells us she saw the whole thing happen. Dayjona Garrett’s voice was already drained when she spoke to us.

“I was screaming and crying all night,” Garrett said.

She was distraught after watching her 14-year-old daughter, Yuhonna Harris, be shot in the stomach Tuesday night in the backyard of Bright Hope Community Apartments. She said a group of children or young adults drove into the neighborhood and began arguing with Harris.

“A fight broke out. My daughter was on top of the attacker, and they shot her, near the stomach,” Garrett said. “She ran to me and just said, ‘Mom, I’m shot, Mom, I’m shot.’”

Garrett said her first instinct was to chase the shooter as he ran to his car.

“The car was right next to me and I pulled up and I was like, did you shoot my daughter? And they hit me and drove away,” Garrett said.

Pottstown police and emergency medical services responded at about 7:30 p.m. and took Harris to Reading Hospital, leaving Garrett in a state of panic.

“All I could think was, please don’t let her die. Please don’t let her die,” Garrett said.

Fortunately, Garrett said Harris received quick treatment and is expected to survive.

“She’s fine. She had surgery recently, yesterday around nine o’clock,” Garrett said.

Garrett said Harris was taken to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for further treatment, but Garrett now hopes the shooter will finally be caught.

“I hope this person comes forward and just turns themselves in,” Garrett said. “If anyone knows anything, please come forward.”

Garrett said she also has a message for anyone considering committing an act of gun violence.

“You don’t have to fight, you don’t have to use a gun. Whatever you’re fighting or thinking you have to shoot somebody, it’s not that serious. We only live once on this earth,” Garrett said.

If you know anything about the shooting, please contact the Pottstown Police Department.