The family of 14-year-old Anaya “Naya” Zachary is demanding justice after the Texas teenager was fatally shot by a classmate. On Saturday evening, relatives, friends, and loved ones gathered to honor her memory, releasing dozens of purple balloons, her favorite color, into the sky.
Authorities reported that Anaya was shot on the playground of her apartment complex around 4 p.m. on Friday after returning home from school. The suspected shooter, a teenage boy who was her classmate at Baytown Junior School, allegedly confronted her following an altercation that had occurred earlier on the school bus. According to police, the suspect had made a verbal threat before the incident, allegedly telling her, “When I get off the bus, I’m going to kill you today.”
Anaya’s godmother, Sonya Stanford, who played a significant role in raising her, confirmed hearing about this threat. The victim’s father, Joseph Zachary, expressed his devastation, stating that while he was aware of a student bothering his daughter, he never imagined the situation would escalate to violence. He recalled arriving at the scene and finding his child deceased in the parking lot.
Described as a respectful and academically focused student, Anaya was determined to succeed in her studies, graduate, and build a bright future for herself. Stanford emphasized that Anaya was not a troublemaker and always displayed good manners.
Despite her grief, Stanford expressed forgiveness toward the teenage suspect. However, she voiced disappointment in his parents, criticizing their parenting and questioning their role in preventing such a tragedy. While she forgives the boy, she stated that she holds his parents accountable for failing to intervene.
The family has launched an online fundraiser to assist with funeral expenses. They plan to take Anaya’s body back to Louisiana, where she was raised.
The teenage suspect is currently in custody, though his identity has not been released due to his age. Authorities have yet to determine the specific charges he will face or whether his parents could also be held legally responsible.
