In the Whitehaven neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee, the life of a promising young woman was tragically cut short. Vianca Janee Harris, a 15-year-old African American girl with dreams of a future in fashion design, was found deceased on March 14, 2016. At the time of her death, Vianca was five weeks pregnant. She was discovered in a family member's apartment at the Valley Forge Apartments, where she had been spending the night with a friend.
The circumstances surrounding her death
pointed to a violent end, as it was determined she had been fatally shot. The investigation that followed led to the arrest of 24-year-old Terry Turner, an acquaintance of Vianca's family. Witnesses reported that Turner had retrieved a 12-gauge shotgun from a closet, loaded it, and fired the weapon, striking Vianca in the head. Turner, however, claimed the shooting was accidental, stating that Vianca had been playing with the gun and it discharged as he was attempting to take it from her. Neighbors also reported hearing a fight at the apartment before the fatal shot was fired.
Turner was subsequently charged with second-degree murder. In a turn of events, the charges against him were later dismissed due to a lack of prosecution. While the District Attorney's Office had the option to present the case to a Grand Jury, they did not proceed with prosecuting Turner for Vianca's death. This legal outcome left a painful void for Vianca's family, who continue to mourn the loss of a creative and beloved daughter.
