HARRISBURG, Pa. — On Tuesday, the Dauphin County Coroner identified 13-year-old Na’Ryah Wright as Sunday’s shooting victim near the area of south 19th and Derry Street.
On Monday, another victim, an unidentified 17-year-old boy, was also killed on the 1700 block of Regina Street.
This marked the second death of a juvenile related to gun violence within 48 hours.
Adam Garber, executive director of the nonprofit CeaseFirePA, describes the cases as tragic.
“Gun violence is the number one killer of children in Pennsylvania and so unfortunately these stories are too frequent, but each time as a parent I am so heart wrenched for the parent who is suffering, for the family and the friends who are suffering,” Garber said.
Both incidents are being investigated as homicides.
FOX43 reached out to the Bureau of Police and the Dauphin County District Attorney’s office to see if the cases could be related but did not receive a response at the time of this article’s publication.
“I think we’ll know more as we learn more, was this related to a beef, was it related to criminal activity, was it purely random unfortunately, what were the drivers; the question CeaseFirePA often asks is ‘where did the firearm come from,’” Garber said.
Garber says gun violence can be traumatic for a community, especially when people are waiting for answers.
“We have a project called Deadly by Design, which helps survivors say, ‘Here’s the gap in the safety system that cost the life of my loved one and how we could close it,'” Garber said.
Anyone with information on either shooting is urged to contact the Harrisburg Bureau of Police. Tips and information can be submitted on the CRIMEWATCH website.
FOX43 reached out to several families and friends of Wright.
One person replied that she “had a heart of gold and confirmed that Na’Ryah was an athlete and cheerleader.
Steelton Highspire Jr. and Senior High School emailed parents and students saying it will be offering crisis counseling for anyone interested.