Grieving mother of 11-calendar year-outdated shot, killed in Harris County needs justice
A grieving mom tells FOX 26’s Damali Keith she are unable to explain her discomfort just after her 11-calendar year-aged was gunned down when grabbing a thing from her automobile.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – Loved types of an 11-12 months-outdated boy are remaining devastated after he was shot and killed in northeast Harris County on Thursday.
The family had just arrived house for the day just after school and do the job when 11-yr-old Darius Dugas understood he experienced remaining his jacket in the car or truck.
Unique Tale: 11-calendar year-old boy killed in northeast Harris County taking pictures
Brenetta Francis states her son Darius, affectionately acknowledged as D.J., went downstairs from their third floor condominium to her motor vehicle to get the jacket and other things when she heard gunshots.
“He was not downstairs one moment prior to we read gunshots and me and my oldest son ran downstairs,” Francis remembers. “My oldest located him, lying down, lifeless.”
Entire Interview: ‘You took anyone very special’: Mom speaks soon after 11-12 months-previous son killed
The mom of an 11-12 months-old who was shot and killed at their Harris County condominium intricate on Thursday shares her emotional testimony with FOX 26, and shares a message to his killer.
“It did not dawn on me that a person was essentially hit until finally I heard a mother’s cry,” states pal and neighbor Sharde Williams. “All the neighbors arrived out and absolutely everyone started praying.”
Small D.J. experienced been shot a person time in the heart. He was taken in important condition to a regional hospital, exactly where he passed absent.
His mom, who is surely in mourning, just cannot think somebody so violently took her younger son.
“The harm I truly feel,” Francis claims shaking her head. “Whoever did this, I will need you to fully grasp that you took anyone incredibly specific.”
His mom thinks the gunman was striving to steal the vehicle.
“He did not deserve to drop his lifetime due to the fact he was harmless. He did not have any keys on him”.
She describes D.J., her youngest of three little ones, as a boy who was well-beloved. He was a sixth-grader at Cobb Sixth Quality Campus, in which he performed drums and bells in the band and experienced just received an award for most expansion.
“He was a superior child, incredibly respectful,” Francis claimed. “Not violent at all.”
“D.J. would consider my trash out, and I’d be like, ‘You took my trash out’ and give him a small change,” Williams says. “A gentleman, properly-mannered.”
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“He would nevertheless operate to me every single working day soon after university and give me a big hug and kiss,” states his heartbroken mother.
There’s a expanding memorial wherever the 11-year-aged expended his final times alive.
Unfortunately, D.J. is nevertheless one more target to the mounting gun violence in Harris County.
“I just truly desire you all would just have a large amount a lot more regard for human lifetime,” claims Francis. “You’re not only hurting people’s dad and mom, you’re hurting communities. And then you are not likely to get away with this, so you’re also likely to be leading to pain and anguish to your cherished types as perfectly.”
According to the sheriff’s workplace, witnesses explained seeing a Black teenage male, with a small afro, sporting a white shirt, and dim sweatpants fleeing the scene on foot.
He reportedly ran northbound via the elaborate and jumped about a wooden fence to exit the sophisticated.
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“Everyday living is precious,” Francis states. “I just want you all to just have a good deal a lot more regard for it mainly because my little one was only 11 yrs old, and he had a genuinely bright long run in advance of him.”
Any person with information and facts on who killed small D.J. is asked to get in touch with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit at 713-274-9100 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-Ideas.