DeKalb County: Mother convicted after confronting man who molested her daughter

DECATUR, GA—A mother who who went after a man who committed a sexual act with her 12-year-old daughter is now facing life in prison.

Authorities say Danyale Harris, 42, tried “to take the law into her own hands,” resulting in the death of Juan Newkirk, a 19-year-old who accompanied Harris and ended up being killed in a shootout during the confrontation.

DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced that jurors returned guilty verdicts on March 22 against Harris on Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony.

The man accused of committing a sexual act with the minor, Antonio Harley, 22, has been charged with Statutory Rape, Child Molestation, and Sexual Exploitation of Children.  His case is still pending, authorities said.

According to the investigation, on March 31, 2020, Harris discovered a video of her daughter, who was 12 years old at the time, involved in a sexual act with Harley.  Harris reported the information to an officer with the DeKalb County Police Department (DKPD)  the next day. The officer took the report, contacted  the DKPD Special Victim’s Unit and told Harris that detectives would get in touch with her. He warned her not to let her anger get the best of her and not to seek revenge.

Hours later, however, Harris drove a group of people to an apartment complex near the intersection of Wesley Chapel Road and Snapfinger Road to confront Harley.  Harris and three of the people she brought with her were armed with handguns, the District Attorney’s Office stated in a news release.

Harris instructed her daughter to point out which apartment was Harley’s.  Harris knocked on the front door with the group behind her. Harley did not open the door, but instead came around from the side of the apartment building to see who was there.  Harris and the rest of the group chased Harley, who managed to make it back inside his apartment through the back door.

As soon as Harley shut the door, someone in the group outside opened fire, striking Harley in the chest.  Harley’s brother, who was inside the apartment, fired back in an effort to protect himself and five of his younger siblings who were inside the apartment.

Newkirk,  who was part of the group who had come to the apartment complex with Harris, was struck and killed in the  exchange of gunfire.

DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Asha F. Jackson, who presided over the trial, sentenced Harris to Life,  plus five years.

Two others involved in the confrontation were also charged.