Harper Woods teen dies after apparent accidental shooting

By Taryn Asher
Fox 2 News Reporter

DETROIT (WJBK) -- Ejuan Barnett's 16-year-old daughter, an eleventh grader at Grosse Pointe North High School, was fatally shot at a Detroit home on Hillcrest around 1:00 a.m. Sunday.  However, it's how it happened that has left him and his family stunned and heartbroken.

"I couldn't believe it because she (was) a good kid, (went) to school, she didn't get into (any) trouble, none of that, just hanging (around) with the wrong crowd," her father said.

That crowd ended up hanging out with Allen Johnson's 18-year-old son.  A night that seemed innocent enough, they were all in the basement.  Johnson was playing video games.  He said his son and his friends were in the next room.

Then he said another 19-year-old stopped by who he later learned tried to sell a gun to his son and while he was showing it off, that gun went off.

Police say the 19-year-old shot himself in the finger and that same bullet struck the 16-year-old girl in the side.  As she laid there bleeding, the shooter fled.  He walked around the corner to St. John Hospital, was treated and took off.

The Johnsons called 9-1-1, but ended up loading the 16-year-old into the car and driving her to the hospital.  She didn't make it and her shooter is still on the run.

"Honestly, I think it was a mistake because he shot himself, too, but he had no business with the gun.  He had no business in my basement," said Johnson.

"I want to talk to her mother," he added.  "Let her know that we (are) sorry for what happened."

The families have yet to speak, but sorry, Barnett said, won't bring his daughter back.

"You can't be your (kid's) friend, and if people (would) be more aware of what their kids (are) doing, then a lot of this wouldn't happen."

We're told because there was a problem with the 9-1-1 call, police weren't actually assigned this case until morning.