Dozens of family, friends, and classmates held a vigil for an 11-year-old girl who was fatally shot after returning home from her first day of school.
Those in attendance wore pink in her honor, and many of her young classmates showed up to remember their friend.
The candlelight memorial for Timea Batts was set for 8 p.m. Tuesday in front of her Shady View Drive home in Hendersonville.
The stepmom didn't want to go on camera but she shared this picture of Timea. She was a cheerleader. @NC5 pic.twitter.com/Lu4OVk9gEb
— Matthew Torres (@NC5_MTorres) August 9, 2016
She was shot before 3:30 p.m. Monday inside the home. According to an affidavit, her father, Timothy Batts, admitted that he accidentally shot her after waking up to hear a noise in the home.
He reportedly grabbed a gun from under the dresser and fired a shot when she yelled and scared him.
He drove her to an area hospital, where she was later airlifted to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital.
Timea, a student at Knox Doss Middle School, died from her injuries.
Her mother told NewsChannel 5 said she and others were not upset with her father. During the vigil they held a special prayer specifically for Timothy.
Gatherers have left several items, including a balloon, flowers and teddy bears, near a stop sign on Shady View Drive.
