Family members say teen dies after being shot in the head

Police say shooting may have been accidental, family wants answers

MIAMI ā€“ A 15-year-old girl was shot in the head early Tuesday morning in Miami, police said. Family members have identified her as Arya Gray, and say the girl has died.

Officers responded about 3 a.m. to a two-story apartment building at 7843 NE 10th Ave. in Miamiā€™s Upper East Side neighborhood.

It took police over 12 hours to process the scene, and they said it may have been an accidental shooting.

The girlā€™s family said they canā€™t comprehend this and want to know where the gun came from.

ā€œWeā€™re never going to be able to hug her, sheā€™s never going to be able to speak to us anymore,ā€ said Liz Baguer, the victimā€™s aunt.

Detectives said the teenage girl did not live there, but they found her inside a unit in the building.

ā€œThe group of friends were hanging out and then a gun got pulled out and this happened,ā€ Baguer said. ā€œ(She was a) very peaceful person, she loved to be around her family, her friends, her brother and sister, and her sister actually witnessed everything -- witnessed her take her last breath.ā€

Family members say 15-year-old Arya Gray (pictured) was shot in the head and killed. (WPLG)

Miami Fire Rescue personnel took her to Jackson Memorial Hospitalā€™s Ryder Trauma Center.

The family told Local 10 News reporter Christian De La Rosa that the hospital is keeping the girl alive to preserve her organs, because she is an organ donor.

Detectives are asking anyone with information about the shooting to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.

ā€œWho gave him the gun? Did it belong to an adult? Why wasnā€™t it locked? Why?ā€ Baguer asked.

Friends and family have started a GoFundMe page to help with funeral expenses.


About the Authors:

Christian De La Rosa joined Local 10 News in April 2017 after spending time as a reporter and anchor in Atlanta, San Diego, Orlando and Panama City Beach.

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.