14-year-old girl shot, killed at apartment complex playground; suspect in custody, police say

BAYTOWN, Texas (KTRK) -- A teen boy is in custody after he allegedly shot and killed a teenage girl at a playground in an apartment complex in Baytown on Friday afternoon.

According to Baytown police, the shooting occurred in the 4600 block of Village Lane at about 4 p.m. The girl was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Relatives identified her as 14-year-old Anaya Zachary. They said she and the shooter attended Baytown Junior in Goose Creek CISD.

Police said preliminary information suggests that Zachary and the teenage boy were involved in an altercation earlier in the day, possibly on the school bus.

Later, while Zachary was at the apartment complex's playground, the boy approached and shot her.

"They say he went home and put on all black, and put on a black mask and called my baby's name and shot my baby four times," Sonya Stanford, who identified herself as the girl's godmother, said.

Stanford said Zachary lived with her at the complex for the last year. She was unaware of any problems.

"This was a sweet baby," she said as she showed a photo of Zachary on her phone.

Police are not identifying the suspected shooter because he is a juvenile; Stanford told reporters she forgives him and said the adults in his life are the ones who are responsible.

"The little boy who did this, I'm not angry with you. I'm not upset with you, but I want you to know I forgive you," she said. "I say you (his parents) should have put your weapon up so your 13-year-old son wouldn't have gotten this gun and shot this child."

Baytown police have not said what charges the teen faces or whether his parents could be charged.

Goose Creek CISD released the following statement on the case:

We can confirm that one of our Goose Creek CISD students was shot and succumbed to their injuries on Friday, March 21, after school near their residence. Campus staff and parents have been notified about the death. On Monday, the district will provide students and staff with social-emotional support on campus.

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