Grandmother of 13-year-old boy killed in Columbia speaks out

COLUMBIA — The grandmother of a 13-year-old Columbia boy who was killed Saturday night said she wants justice.

Law enforcement said they responded to a report of a shooting in the 4400 block of Rice Road at 11:52 p.m. Saturday night. According to a press release, when law enforcement arrived, they found 13-year-old Dajion Harris, who had suffered a serious gunshot wound. The Columbia teen was transported to a local trauma center where he was pronounced dead around 4 a.m. Sunday morning.

Officials said Cameron J. White, 19, of Columbia, was arrested in the 4500 block of Orchard Lane on charges have been upgraded to second-degree murder and armed criminal action from of first-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action.

Court documents made available Monday released the alleged details surrounding the death of the 13-year-old. A woman told police White approached her house and said he believed he shot a person dead. The woman told police White said he and the 13-year-old were "getting high when the 'dude' showed White two guns ... We were just playing with them and he said 'Hey shoot me man' and I just did."

Police identified the victim as Daijon Harris.

"We want justice"

Pat Booth Harris is the boy's paternal grandmother. She said she is very upset that White has only been charged with involuntary manslaughter. She gave great detail about her grandson's death and said she doesn't believe it was an accident. Harris said many have questioned if her grandson and White were related, and she said they are not.

"Manslaughter? He wasn't trying to do it? I don't even know who this boy is," she said. "Why was he hanging with a 13-year-old boy?"

Harris said her grandson was in his own home when he was shot. She said his maternal grandmother had just dropped him off minutes before he was shot.

"He [White] lived in the neighborhood not too far from him, from my understanding," Harris said.

"My son was his father, they died almost two years and two weeks to the exact date apart."

Harris said her son died from an illness on Oct. 9, 2017 and to bury her grandson two years later is breaking her heart.

"Now we have to bury his child, it's not fair," she said. Harris said her grandson was the youngest of his siblings.

"He didn't deserve this, something has to be done about this," she said.

Harris said she also has known many of the recent Columbia homicide victims and recently attended their funerals. She said currently, there are no arrangements for her grandson.

"A great kid and ball player"

Harris said her grandson was an excellent basketball and football player. He played football for the Columbia Raiders until he broke his leg. She said his brother was an outstanding basketball star at Rockbridge High School and now plays for KU, and said he wanted to follow in his footsteps

"He was at least 6'1", I even had to look up to him," she said. "I'm not saying he always was the best because every kid has their days, but he was a really good kid overall."

Harris said her grandson just got his physical last week for the upcoming basketball season, which started on Monday.

"We just have no understanding right now," she said.

Columbia Public Schools said they have notified Oakland Middle School families of the teen's death and will have counselors available to students and staff to help them grieve the loss of the student.

"We are deeply saddened by the sudden and tragic loss of one of our students last night," said Michelle Baumstark the Community Relations Director for Columbia Public Schools. "Our condolences and thoughts go out to the family and friends of our student."

Baumstark also expressed that the school district is cooperating with law enforcement officials as they continue the investigation into the incident.

White was scheduled to appear in Boone County Circuit Court Monday afternoon. He was behind bars without a bond.

Editor's Note: The story has been updated with the victim's name and the suspect charge information.