Janaya Swain, a 4-year-old girl from Akron, Ohio, tragically lost her life on February 16, 2018. Janaya was born on November 25, 2013, to her parents, Denzha Swain and Jermaine Bailey Jr. She was a bright and beloved child who attended ABC Clubhouse Academy and left behind a loving family, including her mother, father, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
The circumstances surrounding Janaya's death were heart-wrenching.
On the night of her death, Janaya was sitting in a car with her grandmother and three sisters when her mother, De'Azha Swain, went to the home of Darnell Bitting, Janaya's mother's ex-boyfriend, to retrieve some belongings. An argument ensued, and Bitting, armed with an AK-47, fired a shot at the car. The bullet missed De'Azha but tragically struck Janaya in the head, leading to her immediate death.
Darnell Bitting, a 32-year-old man, was arrested the following day by U.S. Marshals and later found guilty of two counts of murder and six counts of felonious assault. During the trial, Bitting claimed he thought he was under attack when windows in his home were smashed, and he fired the weapon as a warning shot. However, the jury did not accept his self-defense claim, and he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 56 ½ years.
The loss of Janaya Swain deeply affected her family and the community. Her mother, De'Azha Swain, expressed forgiveness towards Bitting and urged him to repent and pray. The family held a celebration of life service to honor Janaya's memory and to find some solace amidst their grief.
Janaya's story is a tragic reminder of the devastating impact of gun violence on innocent lives and the importance of seeking justice for victims and their families.
