A Chicago community remembers a 15-year-old girl who was fatally stabbed Saturday during an altercation with other girls.
According to CBS Chicago, Dekayla Dansberry was stabbed in the chest after a fight broke out Saturday evening in the South Side Parkway Gardens neighborhood.
The teen was taken to Stroger Hospital and was pronounced dead at 8:24 p.m., authorities report. Dekayla reportedly ran across a group of girls that had a disagreement with her.
CBS Chicago reports that Dekayla was out with friends when a second group crossed paths, and an earlier undisclosed argument led to the fight. Media has not been informed on what initially caused the argument.
One of the girls reportedly took out a knife and stabbed Dekayla, who was a student and sprinter on the track team at Johnson College Prep.
“She was a good teammate. She was always happy. She kept a smile on my face. It’s just heartbreaking. I don’t believe it,” said schoolmate Tyanna Chatman.
Another friend, Faith Cathery, told CBS Chicago, “I was real close to her. Just to know her for a few months, it felt like years.”
Community activist Andrew Holmes identified the girl and pleaded with teens to stop posting fight videos and photos on social media platforms:
“From listening and looking, social media played a big part in this. It may have led up to this; and then ultimately to this young lady losing her life, but this didn’t have to happen.”
