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| MaKayla Dyer's shooting still shocks town: 'Rest in peace sweet baby' | MaKayla Dyer's shooting still shocks town: 'Rest in peace sweet baby' |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| MaKayla Dyer wanted to look just like the queen in the movie. A Tiara. A blue dress, sparkling. | MaKayla Dyer wanted to look just like the queen in the movie. A Tiara. A blue dress, sparkling. |
| Related: Tennessee mother mourns eight-year-old daughter's killing: 'This is not fair' | Related: Tennessee mother mourns eight-year-old daughter's killing: 'This is not fair' |
| She loved Frozen, the way so many other eight-year-old girls love the Disney movie, whether they are sitting in a suburban living room or in a trailer in a rural stretch of the American south-east, as MaKayla was when she watched. | |
| She knew all the words, and spent afternoons playing with her best friend and an Elsa Barbie. This Halloween, she was going to look just like Elsa. Powerful and pretty, both. | She knew all the words, and spent afternoons playing with her best friend and an Elsa Barbie. This Halloween, she was going to look just like Elsa. Powerful and pretty, both. |
| This week, MaKayla’s friends and family gathered to stare at the girl’s costume. There she was, Queen Elsa. Surrounded by pink wreaths. Inside a casket. | This week, MaKayla’s friends and family gathered to stare at the girl’s costume. There she was, Queen Elsa. Surrounded by pink wreaths. Inside a casket. |
| The eight-year-old girl from White Pine, Tennessee, died on 3 October. Police say a neighbor in her trailer park shot her, in a dispute about puppies. The alleged shooter was 11. | The eight-year-old girl from White Pine, Tennessee, died on 3 October. Police say a neighbor in her trailer park shot her, in a dispute about puppies. The alleged shooter was 11. |
| At the funeral, four-year-old Riley Edwards approached the casket. She placed a teddy bear next to her friend’s body and whispered: “Come on Kayla,” she said. “Let’s go play.” | At the funeral, four-year-old Riley Edwards approached the casket. She placed a teddy bear next to her friend’s body and whispered: “Come on Kayla,” she said. “Let’s go play.” |
| White Pine is a rural town with a little more than 2,000 residents. There are three gas stations, two stoplights and one grocery store. The staff at McDonald’s call you “honey” or “darling”. The fire department is all-volunteer and high school football dominates Friday nights. | White Pine is a rural town with a little more than 2,000 residents. There are three gas stations, two stoplights and one grocery store. The staff at McDonald’s call you “honey” or “darling”. The fire department is all-volunteer and high school football dominates Friday nights. |
| Most residents find work on factory floors, in stores or behind the wheel of a semi-truck. Among the rolling hills and far-spaced, single story homes, the leaves are turning gold. | Most residents find work on factory floors, in stores or behind the wheel of a semi-truck. Among the rolling hills and far-spaced, single story homes, the leaves are turning gold. |
| Three people have been murdered here since 2001. In that time, 12 people have been murdered in all of Jefferson County. This town is safe, residents say. Family friendly. They knew MaKayla as a quiet, polite girl who always said “please” and “thank you” in her thick southern accent. She smiled almost constantly. | Three people have been murdered here since 2001. In that time, 12 people have been murdered in all of Jefferson County. This town is safe, residents say. Family friendly. They knew MaKayla as a quiet, polite girl who always said “please” and “thank you” in her thick southern accent. She smiled almost constantly. |
| “She had the kindest heart of an eight-year-old,” said Misty Edwards, Riley’s mother. “And she had a whole life ahead of her.” | “She had the kindest heart of an eight-year-old,” said Misty Edwards, Riley’s mother. “And she had a whole life ahead of her.” |
| Chastity Arwood, a neighbor, spoke to Local 8 News. The girl was turning cartwheels with one of her sisters and a friend on the grass outside her home, Arwood said. Her 11-year-old next-door neighbor showed her his puppy from inside his open bedroom window and asked to see hers. | |
| MaKayla said no. | MaKayla said no. |
| The boy pointed his father’s 12-gauge shotgun to the window. MaKayla giggled and turned to her friends. | The boy pointed his father’s 12-gauge shotgun to the window. MaKayla giggled and turned to her friends. |
| “Let’s go get the –” she began to say. | “Let’s go get the –” she began to say. |
| That is when Arwood says the boy snapped the trigger. | That is when Arwood says the boy snapped the trigger. |
| Seconds later, the girl’s family ran to Arwood’s porch. “He shot my baby!” they yelled, over and over, above the noise of the Tennessee-Arkansas game on Arwood’s TV. Arwood called 911. | Seconds later, the girl’s family ran to Arwood’s porch. “He shot my baby!” they yelled, over and over, above the noise of the Tennessee-Arkansas game on Arwood’s TV. Arwood called 911. |
| When Misty Edwards heard the pop of the gunshot, she thought someone was burning garbage. Her eight-year-old niece, Hannah, the friend who was with MaKayla, ran inside to tell Edwards the girl was lying on the ground. | When Misty Edwards heard the pop of the gunshot, she thought someone was burning garbage. Her eight-year-old niece, Hannah, the friend who was with MaKayla, ran inside to tell Edwards the girl was lying on the ground. |
| “Don’t play like that, don’t say things like that,” Edwards told Hannah, who started to cry. | “Don’t play like that, don’t say things like that,” Edwards told Hannah, who started to cry. |
| When Edwards walked outside, MaKayla’s mother, Latasha Dyer, was on her knees, cradling the child’s body to her chest. Makayla died in hospital. | When Edwards walked outside, MaKayla’s mother, Latasha Dyer, was on her knees, cradling the child’s body to her chest. Makayla died in hospital. |
| Hannah has gone quiet since the incident. Whenever she tries to talk, she begins to cry. Her school gave her the week off. | Hannah has gone quiet since the incident. Whenever she tries to talk, she begins to cry. Her school gave her the week off. |
| MaKayla had run into trouble with the boy before, Dyer told a local television channel, WATE. When the family first moved to the mobile home, he made fun of MaKayla, calling her names. Dyer went to the principal of White Pine Elementary, the school both children attended. The bullying stopped. | MaKayla had run into trouble with the boy before, Dyer told a local television channel, WATE. When the family first moved to the mobile home, he made fun of MaKayla, calling her names. Dyer went to the principal of White Pine Elementary, the school both children attended. The bullying stopped. |
| The 11-year-old boy is being held on a first-degree murder charge at a juvenile facility, in lieu of a $500,000 bond. His next court hearing is scheduled for 28 October, at which point the case could be transferred to an adult court. Child Welfare services are investigating, according to the Knoxville Sentinel. | The 11-year-old boy is being held on a first-degree murder charge at a juvenile facility, in lieu of a $500,000 bond. His next court hearing is scheduled for 28 October, at which point the case could be transferred to an adult court. Child Welfare services are investigating, according to the Knoxville Sentinel. |
| Jefferson County sheriff GW “Bud” McCoig said the boy’s parents and his five siblings were home at the time of the alleged shooting. Whether or not the parents will be charged with their son is “still under investigation”, he told the Sentinel. | Jefferson County sheriff GW “Bud” McCoig said the boy’s parents and his five siblings were home at the time of the alleged shooting. Whether or not the parents will be charged with their son is “still under investigation”, he told the Sentinel. |
| Why would you have a loaded shotgun with that many children in the home? That makes me more nervous than what happened | Why would you have a loaded shotgun with that many children in the home? That makes me more nervous than what happened |
| MaKayla’s death came on the heels of a shooting at a community college in Roseburg, Oregon that killed nine. On Friday, two more campus shootings occurred: one person died in Flagstaff, Arizona and another died in Houston, Texas. | MaKayla’s death came on the heels of a shooting at a community college in Roseburg, Oregon that killed nine. On Friday, two more campus shootings occurred: one person died in Flagstaff, Arizona and another died in Houston, Texas. |
| An estimated 10,000 children are killed or injured by gun violence every year in the US, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The US also has the highest rate of gun-related deaths of any high-income country, the AAP says. | An estimated 10,000 children are killed or injured by gun violence every year in the US, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The US also has the highest rate of gun-related deaths of any high-income country, the AAP says. |
| According to the Gun Violence Archive, as of Saturday 10,236 people had died from gun violence in the US this year. But the defence of gun rights, long championed in places like White Pine, is spreading across the country. In a 2014 Pew study, 52% of those surveyed said it was more important to protect the right to own guns than to limit some people’s access to the weapons. | According to the Gun Violence Archive, as of Saturday 10,236 people had died from gun violence in the US this year. But the defence of gun rights, long championed in places like White Pine, is spreading across the country. In a 2014 Pew study, 52% of those surveyed said it was more important to protect the right to own guns than to limit some people’s access to the weapons. |
| In White Pine, some residents do not see MaKayla’s death as a reason to change their view. It is a tragedy, they say, but it will not alter how they live. | In White Pine, some residents do not see MaKayla’s death as a reason to change their view. It is a tragedy, they say, but it will not alter how they live. |
| “I am 100% pro-gun,” said Tammy Cody, the co-owner of a thrift store near the White Pine mobile home park. “But we have safety precautions. | “I am 100% pro-gun,” said Tammy Cody, the co-owner of a thrift store near the White Pine mobile home park. “But we have safety precautions. |
| “Why would you have a loaded shotgun with that many children in the home? That makes me more nervous than what happened. You’re not protecting your child with the standard rules of owning gun.” | “Why would you have a loaded shotgun with that many children in the home? That makes me more nervous than what happened. You’re not protecting your child with the standard rules of owning gun.” |
| Cody said people in town were wondering where the boy’s parents were during the alleged shooting. They wonder if the boy had been taught gun safety. | Cody said people in town were wondering where the boy’s parents were during the alleged shooting. They wonder if the boy had been taught gun safety. |
| Alex Graves, a gas station employee whose daughter went to White Pine Elementary with MaKayla and the boy, also said the focus should be on the boy’s parents, not the guns. | Alex Graves, a gas station employee whose daughter went to White Pine Elementary with MaKayla and the boy, also said the focus should be on the boy’s parents, not the guns. |
| “If he got that upset over not getting to pet a puppy,” Graves said, “you have to wonder if there’s more factors at home.” | “If he got that upset over not getting to pet a puppy,” Graves said, “you have to wonder if there’s more factors at home.” |
| When Edwards bought the bear for Riley to place in MaKayla’s casket, the Dollar Store cashier told her it was a pitiful case for everyone involved. Many in town agreed. | When Edwards bought the bear for Riley to place in MaKayla’s casket, the Dollar Store cashier told her it was a pitiful case for everyone involved. Many in town agreed. |
| “I feel for both sides,” Cody said. “Both families lost a child. As he grows up and he starts understanding more, he’s going to have to come to terms with what happened. And he’s going to have to live with that.” | “I feel for both sides,” Cody said. “Both families lost a child. As he grows up and he starts understanding more, he’s going to have to come to terms with what happened. And he’s going to have to live with that.” |
| The boy’s family has yet to speak publicly. They were not known well by their neighbors, who said the children were rarely let outside. When any of the siblings did ask the neighborhood children to play, they would say they had snuck out. | The boy’s family has yet to speak publicly. They were not known well by their neighbors, who said the children were rarely let outside. When any of the siblings did ask the neighborhood children to play, they would say they had snuck out. |
| On Facebook, MaKayla’s friends and family changed their profile pictures to the same photo of the girl – a playful smirk across her face and her left hand in a peace sign with gold, purple and pink beads on her wrist. In the comments of every image, mourners called for prayer. | On Facebook, MaKayla’s friends and family changed their profile pictures to the same photo of the girl – a playful smirk across her face and her left hand in a peace sign with gold, purple and pink beads on her wrist. In the comments of every image, mourners called for prayer. |
| “Pray for God to wrap his arms around all of you,” one comment said. Another: “praying that God comforts your heart and gives you peace and understanding.” Another: “Rest in Peace sweet baby.” | “Pray for God to wrap his arms around all of you,” one comment said. Another: “praying that God comforts your heart and gives you peace and understanding.” Another: “Rest in Peace sweet baby.” |
| It don’t feel right with her not here. I’m used to her coming over and her knocking on the door | It don’t feel right with her not here. I’m used to her coming over and her knocking on the door |
| Everything is quiet now at the White Pine mobile home park. There used to be a makeshift memorial to MaKayla outside her door – balloons, flowers, a prayer candle – but family members collected the offerings. | Everything is quiet now at the White Pine mobile home park. There used to be a makeshift memorial to MaKayla outside her door – balloons, flowers, a prayer candle – but family members collected the offerings. |
| Baby carriages and a little girl’s bike lie among the trailers. A yellow lab mix with a dirty head paces across the driveway. The families of the alleged shooter and the victim have gone to stay elsewhere. | Baby carriages and a little girl’s bike lie among the trailers. A yellow lab mix with a dirty head paces across the driveway. The families of the alleged shooter and the victim have gone to stay elsewhere. |
| “It don’t feel right with her not here,” Edwards said. “I’m used to her coming over and her knocking on the door.” | “It don’t feel right with her not here,” Edwards said. “I’m used to her coming over and her knocking on the door.” |
| Edwards has told her daughter MaKayla is in heaven. She won’t come out to play anymore, won’t ride the miniature four-wheeler. | Edwards has told her daughter MaKayla is in heaven. She won’t come out to play anymore, won’t ride the miniature four-wheeler. |
| Edwards said Riley struggles to understand. She says her friend is at the doctor. Edwards tells her no. She’s with Jesus. Riley says she hates that somebody took away her friend. | Edwards said Riley struggles to understand. She says her friend is at the doctor. Edwards tells her no. She’s with Jesus. Riley says she hates that somebody took away her friend. |
| Edwards is trying to save money to move out of the trailer park. She doesn’t want to be near what happened. For now, though, she finds herself staying awake at night, just to watch her daughter sleep. | Edwards is trying to save money to move out of the trailer park. She doesn’t want to be near what happened. For now, though, she finds herself staying awake at night, just to watch her daughter sleep. |
| During the day, she watches Riley walk outside, watches her look up to the sky. | During the day, she watches Riley walk outside, watches her look up to the sky. |
| “Hi Kayla,” she says. | “Hi Kayla,” she says. |