The 14-year-old boy who shot and killed a cheerleader at a party in Arizona last year has learned his fate.
Hailey Stephens, a 17-year-old cheerleader at Casa Grande Union High School, died after being shot in the head by a stray bullet at an abandoned house party last November.
The boy accused of her death, who was only 13 at the time of the shooting, was found guilty of second-degree murder on Tuesday, but will only be able to remain behind bars until he turns 18.
“To me, true justice means that Hailey’s murder would be in prison for the rest of their lives, but following the law of the state of Arizona, this is what justice looks like for Hailey,” said Vanessa Stephens, the mother of Hailey. Arizona’s family.
‘I’m still looking for peace with it. There is no closure. This pain will remain with me until the day I die.
Hailey Stephens, 17, died after being shot in the head by a stray bullet at an abandoned house party last November.
The boy accused of her death, who was just 13 at the time of the shooting, was found guilty of second-degree murder on Tuesday.
The party, which was held in a vacant house along East Silver Reef Road in Casa Grande, quickly turned deadly after a shootout broke out between several teenagers around 1:30 a.m.
Stephens and her friend, 17-year-old Kiley Mendoza, were horribly caught in the crossfire of the crazy gunfight (at least 60 shots fired back and forth) as they tried to leave the party.
Police said the girls were simply “innocent bystanders” to the shooting.
The teens tried to flee through the neighbor’s backyard before police arrived on the scene. fox 10 reported.
Stephens was shot in the head and taken to a Phoenix hospital in critical condition before succumbing to the injury a few hours later.
Mendoza was shot in the arm and survived, but is left in pain and emotional trauma after her friend’s death.
Stephens and her friend were horribly caught in the crossfire of the crazed shootout between several teenagers.
There were at least 60 shots fired the night of the tragedy
The abandoned house where the party took place was destroyed and riddled with bullets after the fight
“You know, if we left a minute later, sooner, we wouldn’t get caught in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Mendoza told Fox 10.
Nine teenagers were arrested in connection with the shooting; five of them were charged with murder and the other four with burglary.
But Stephens’ killer was the only one who went to trial and was tried as a juvenile in Pinal County.
Due to Arizona law, the 14-year-old could not be tried as an adult.
Court documents revealed that the girls had never seen the boy before the shooting considering he was from the Coolidge area, Fox 10 reported.
Stephens’ mother told Arizona’s Family that she feels closer to her daughter and finds comfort while sitting in her bedroom.
“She really was a good person,” he said. ‘I wasn’t there. I only knew what I heard. I had to see it for myself.’
The abandoned house was vandalized and riddled with bullets after the fight. But seeing the evidence and learning the details firsthand during the trial helped her mother accept the heartbreaking reality.
Stephens’ brother, now 13, is the same age as his killer at the time of the crime.
“The prosecution had to convince me, too,” her mother told Arizona’s Family. “It’s really hard to accept that a 13-year-old can do this.”
Three of Stephens’ closest friends testified in his murder case and are now mourning their childhood friend.
“First of all, any 14-year-old should not even be attending a party or having a gun in their hand pointed at anyone,” La’Tajanique Gaines, a close friend, told Fox 10.
Stephens was a straight-A student who had college offers and was a great encourager.
The homeowner also noted that the house was completely destroyed after the party.
There will be a balloon release on the high school football field on Nov. 23, organized by the foundation created by his family to commemorate their loved one.
Stephens’ killer could be behind bars only until he turns 18 due to Arizona law
He had plans to attend Arizona State University and cheer on the Sun Devils, Fox 10 reported.
“I’m numb,” her mother told Arizona’s Family. “I’m still stuck on Hailey.”
The family created the Hailey Lynn Stephens Foundation in memory of your loved one in March of this year, a charity to support graduating seniors who wish to continue their education after high school and promote community goodwill.
The website, which describes Stephens as a “vibrant, uplifting and hard-working student,” aims to support seniors who embody those same characteristics.
A balloon release hosted by the nonprofit will be held on Nov. 23 at the high school football field.
The 14-year-old boy’s sentencing is scheduled for November 4.