Pekin girl shot during weekend dies

Posted on April 11, 2017
A GoFundMe page has been established for Haylee Garrison’s family. (Photo GoFundMe/Haylee Garrison Family)

By WMBD Staff

PEKIN – A nine-year-old Pekin girl accidentally shot by her cousin in her home on Friday has died.

Haylee Garrison died Tuesday morning after being taken off of life support. Tuesday was also her ninth birthday.

Matt Green, the principal at Starke Primary School where Haylee was in the third grade, could not say enough about Haylee’s kindness.

“I’ve been contacted by almost every staff member in some form or another asking what can we do,” Green told news partner WMBD-TV. “And thinking about the family but also thinking about our return from spring break. So although again while we don’t have a lot in place, people are rallying around the family and around the Starke community and I have no doubt that will continue.”

Starke Primary is on spring break this week. When students return on Tuesday, counselors and comfort dogs will be available.

The school is planning a fundraiser for the family. A GoFundMe page can be found here.

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