Danyale Harris, left, was found guilty of murder after she led a group of individuals to confront the alleged abuser of her 12-year-old daughter. A gunfight occurred and one of the men in her group died. (DeKalb County Police Department)
Furious after watching a video of a 22-year-old man sexually assaulting her 12-year-old daughter, Danyale Harris decided to retaliate by taking a group of people to confront the suspect at his apartment, according to prosecutors in Georgia said.
During the ensuing gunfight, one of the men Harris led to the apartment ended up dead. Now Harris, 42, could be imprisoned for life. A jury in DeKalb County found Harris guilty of felony murder, aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, District Attorney Sherry Boston stated in a press release on Friday.
The series of incidents began on March 31, 2020, when Harris discovered a video showing a sexual act between her daughter and the man, later identified as Antonio Harley, authorities said. Harris reported the video to the DeKalb County Police Department the following day. Officers informed her they would investigate the situation and follow up with her.
“He cautioned her not to let her anger overwhelm her and not to seek vengeance,” the press release noted.
Instead, Harris is accused of “trying to take the law into her hands.” Several hours later, Harris drove multiple people to an apartment complex near the intersection of Wesley Chapel Road and Snapfinger Road to confront Harley.
At approximately 1 p.m. on April 1, 2020, Harris had her daughter indicate Harley’s apartment, authorities said. Armed with firearms, Harris knocked on the apartment door with her associates standing behind her. Harley did not open the door but came around the side of the apartment to see who was there. That’s when Harris and the rest of the group pursued Harley who fled into the apartment via the back door.
After Harley closed the door, someone in Harris’ group opened fire, hitting Harley in the chest, say prosecutors. Harley's brother, protecting their five younger siblings who were also in the apartment, fired back, according to authorities. The shots struck one of the men in Harris’ group, 19-year-old Juan Newkirk. Newkirk passed away.
Juan Newkirk died in April 2020 in DeKalb County, Georgia, during a gunfight. Newkirk, 19, accompanied 42-year-old Danyale Harris, who was confronting a 22-year-old man who was caught on video molesting her 12-year-old daughter, prosecutors said. (Obituary)
Harley, now 26, survived the gun battle and is charged with statutory rape, child molestation, and sexual exploitation of children. His case is pending.
Two additional individuals were charged in the gunfight and are awaiting trial, according to prosecutors.
A judge sentenced Harris to life in prison with the possibility of parole plus five years.