On the evening of January 19, 2024, a 15-year-old female named Brianna Rachelle Higgins was tragically killed in Olathe, Kansas. A sophomore at Lawrence High School, she was described by her family as a 'beautiful, bright soul' who was the light of any room she entered.
That night, two acquaintances reportedly woke Brianna at her home in Lawrence and persuaded her to go out with them.
Later, at approximately 10:51 p.m., Olathe Police were contacted by the Olathe Medical Center regarding a juvenile female who had been brought to the hospital with a gunshot wound. Despite the efforts of hospital staff and officers who assisted in bringing her into the facility, Brianna was pronounced deceased.
The investigation led police to the Clarion Park Apartments in the 16900 block of West 127th Street in Olathe, where the shooting was determined to have occurred. Brianna's family was left with many questions, wondering why the individuals she was with drove her to the hospital instead of immediately calling for emergency services, a decision they believe may have cost her precious time. Police later identified and contacted all parties who were in the car that transported Brianna to the hospital.
In connection with Brianna's death, a 17-year-old male from Kansas City, Missouri, named Davon Washington, was taken into custody on January 29. He was charged with reckless second-degree murder and being a juvenile in possession of a firearm. The criminal complaint stated that Washington 'unintentionally but recklessly' shot and killed Higgins. Although prosecutors initially sought to try him as an adult, Washington ultimately pleaded guilty to the charges. His sentencing was scheduled for June 28, 2024.
