Henry County

McDonough High volleyball team honors teammate in first game after her murder

By WSBTV.com News Staff
By WSBTV.com News Staff

MCDONOUGH, Ga. — The McDonough High School volleyball team is honoring one of their own after she was gunned down over the weekend.

Tanyla Johnson, 15, was visiting family in middle Georgia when she attended a block party. During the party, shots rang out, and she and four other teens were hit.

She was the only one of them to die from her injuries.

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Her volleyball team played in their first game since her death Tuesday night, and took the opportunity to honor their fallen teammate.

Johnson’s jersey featuring No. 15 sat off to the side with flowers to recognize her tragic absence. Each of her teammates also wore No. 15 on the bows in their hair.

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McDonough High School Athletic Director Greg Shook said Johnson was a treasured member of their basketball and volleyball teams, all while maintaining straight A’s.

“Anytime that you see a student pass away under these circumstances here, it’s very tragic for us,” Shook said. “The only thing that we can do is be there to support the parents and support our kids and make sure they are comfortable and able to go to class and have someone there to talk to.”

Channel 2′s Michael Seiden spoke with Johnson’s uncle on Monday. He said Johnson’s true passion was spending time with her family, especially her little cousins.

“We’ve lost something irreplaceable. And we wish we could have her here still,” Greg Ledford said.

Police have not released any details on any potential suspects. Anyone with information is asked to call Macon Regional Crimestoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.

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15-year-old Henry County girl killed after 5 shot at middle Georgia party Tanyla Johnson, 15, was taken to the hospital, where she died. Police said Johnson had been visiting family in Warner Robins.

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