Heartbreaking Shooting Incident Leaves Young Girl in Critical Condition, Father Charged with Cruelty to Children

A young girl’s hospitalization ensues following a shooting on Sterlington Drive’s 5000 block, reveals Grovetown Police Department, prompting a multitude of law enforcement vehicles to gather at the residence, painting a self-explanatory picture of the situation. The distressing incident unfolded at approximately 5:45 p.m. on Monday at Sterlington Apartments. According to authorities, after the shooting transpired, the family promptly placed the injured child in their vehicle and commenced their journey to a nearby medical facility.

However, due to erratic driving behavior, a Columbia County deputy conducted a traffic stop in front of Applebee’s on Gateway Boulevard, at which point the child’s situation came to the deputy’s attention. Jamey Kitchens, chief of Grovetown Police Department, recounted, “Two individuals got out of the car holding the child that was shot claim or explaining that the child had been shot at the address over here on Sterlington Drive.” The Grovetown Police Department swiftly responded upon being notified. Kitchens stated that multiple children were present in the residence during the incident, along with at least two, possibly three, adults. The child’s father, identified as Davion Daniels, was reportedly with her at the time of the shooting. Allegedly, Daniels confessed to placing a handgun on the floor while he descended to answer a phone call.

Authorities have confirmed that the child sustained a gunshot wound to the head, asserting, “As it stands right now, we know of at least one gunshot wound to the head.” Daniels informed the police that he heard a gunshot shortly thereafter and hurried upstairs to discover his child suffering from a head injury. Subsequently, Daniels and another family member transported the wounded child towards the hospital, only to encounter the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office unit en route. Presently, the child remains in critical condition, and no further updates regarding her condition are available.

As a result, Daniels has been charged with second-degree cruelty to children and possession of a machine gun, as the firearm found was illegally altered to function in a fully automatic manner. Daniels has been remanded to the Columbia County Detention Center on the aforementioned charges, with additional charges yet to be determined. The Grovetown Police Department has initiated the preliminary stages of the investigation, while the child undergoes surgery in critical condition. Investigators have collected a window from the crime scene, which will undergo processing at the Grovetown Police Department. Officials concluded their presence at the scene at approximately 8:15 p.m.