A father mistook his teen daughter for an intruder and shot her to death.
As multiple news outlets reported, Janae Hairston made her way into her parents’ garage early Wednesday morning (Dec. 29), setting off the home’s security system and sparking concern from her father, who sprung into action and shot her. A 911 call made by Hairston’s mother captured the moment when he realized that he fatally shot his own daughter.
In the eight-minute phone call, the teen’s mom begged for medical assistance as she revealed that her husband had accidentally shot Hairston.
“My husband made a mistake and shot her because he thought she was an intruder. She was in our garage and my husband just didn’t know what was going on. Oh, my God,” she said, adding her thoughts that the teen was possibly struck in the chest.
Also heard in the call was Hairston’s father, who pleaded alongside his wife for the 16-year-old to wake up. “Breathe, baby,” he asked. The parents collectively expressed confusion about what their daughter was doing in the garage.
When emergency responders arrived at the scene six minutes later, the teen girl was rushed to Mount Carmel East Hospital; she was pronounced dead an hour later.
In the wake of Hairston’s death, the school she attended, Canal Winchester High School, is offering counseling to students and staff members who may be affected by her tragic passing. An investigation is also being conducted by detectives, who will forward the case to Franklin County Prosecutor’s office for a final review.
According to the Columbus Dispatch, the 16-year-old’s killing marks the seventh homicide to be reported in Columbus within one week. A total of 202 homicides have been reported in the year 2021, making this year the deadliest one in its history.