In a tragic and unforeseen turn of events, 17-year-old Deaza Barkley, a vibrant Black/African American female from East New York, Brooklyn, was fatally shot on Saturday, February 15, 2025. The incident occurred at a friend's house in the Holliswood section of Queens, where she was discovered with a gunshot wound to her head. Emergency services were called to the residence on Clover Place around 5:15 p.m., and she was swiftly transported to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where she was
pronounced dead.
Deaza, affectionately known as "De-De" by her loved ones, was a high school student with a promising future. She was a cheerleader and was contemplating a future in the Air Force after her impending graduation. In a poignant twist of fate, her mother revealed that Deaza had recently completed a school project on the very issue that claimed her life: gun violence. Her friends and family remember her as a bright and loving presence, with a passion for dancing.
The immediate aftermath of the shooting led to the arrest of a 16-year-old male who was at the house at the time of the incident. He has since been charged with manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon. According to the criminal complaint, the firearm discharged while the defendant was handling it, striking Deaza in the head. Investigators are working to determine the ownership of the gun, as its serial number had been removed, complicating the tracing process. The house where the tragedy unfolded was reportedly known for transient occupants.
In the days following her death, family, friends, and community members gathered for a heartfelt vigil to honor Deaza's memory. Mourners released balloons and chanted "Long live De-De," celebrating the life of a young woman whose potential was tragically cut short. Her grieving mother described the immense pain of her loss, struggling to comprehend how her daughter, who was dedicated to raising awareness about gun violence, could become a victim of it herself. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Deaza Barkley's death is ongoing.
