LA VERGNE, TN (WSMV) –
A La Vergne teen stabbed herself to death in a park in front of the same people her family said was bullying her.
Family members said it’s hard enough knowing 14-year-old Sherokee Harriman is never coming back. But what they said is even worse is hearing and seeing the bullying still happening after she’s gone.
“She was happy,” said CJ Jatala, Sherokee’s uncle. “We had no clue that there was anything wrong.”
Jatala spoke to Channel 4 on behalf of Sherokee’s family. He said she often visited Mankin Park.
“She came up here a lot to get away, to clear her head and do what she wanted to do,” Jatala said.
But Saturday was her last trip to the park.
“She went home and I guess that’s when she grabbed a knife, and then she came back up here,” Jatala said.
Sherokee stabbed herself once in the stomach.
Police said witnesses were at the park when it happened. Family members said one of those witnesses was giving her a hard time.
“To call a 14-year-old some of the stuff they were calling her is just ridiculous,” Jatala said. “What could she possibly have done to you to make you do this to her?”
Jatala received a chain of text messages he said knocked him off his feet. He said a teenager texted one of Sherokee’s friends laughing and saying, “I’ve apparently pissed a girl off so bad I made her commit suicide.”
“Life is too precious for this to go on,” said Amy Duke, a family friend.
Duke is getting creative to help bring awareness to bullying in the hopes something will change.
“I’ve had a lot of outpouring of support for that,” she said.
Sherokee’s family said she loved singing, especially Taylor Swift songs. Her uncle is hoping teens will take one of Swift’s songs to heart.
“My thing is just don’t react. Just don’t let them know it bothers you,” Jatala said. “Shake it off, like Taylor Swift, shake it off. But I guess it’s harder for some 14-year-olds.”
Jatala is working with a La Vergne detective to start an organization that will bring awareness to bullying. For more information, click here.
A GoFundMe page has also been set up to help the family with funeral expenses.
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Source: NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) Channel 4
Family says bullying to blame for Midstate teen’s suicide
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