Photo Courtesy of Danielle Parker's Family
A Brooklyn woman is clinging to life after she was shot by her mother’s reported disgruntled tenant.
On October 16, Danielle Parker was having Sunday dinner at her family’s home on Dumont Avenue in East New York. The Daily News reported that she lives with her mom and brother. The unidentified tenant called Danielle’s brother as the family gathered.
Amani Parker, the victim’s sister, told the news outlet that Danielle overheard the conversation and intervened.
“She heard it on speaker. He was threatening us, saying, ‘Come outside, come outside and fight.’ He said he had a gun. He was making texts and calls to my older brother’s phone over and over,” she said.
The former tenant, along with his girlfriend and 4-year-old daughter, drove to the home on Dumont in East New York. Danielle left the safety of her house and went downstairs. A fight ensued between the girlfriend and the victim. The tenant ended up shooting the 29-year-old woman in the neck.
“He came out of nowhere and shot her,” said Amani, 25. “Why would he get involved with the girl fight?”
The family called 9-1-1, and Danielle was taken to Brookdale University Hospital in Brooklyn, where she is currently unresponsive. She also has a 4-year-old daughter.
The tenant allegedly had beef with the family after being evicted from the home in August after failing to pay $500 in rent to the matriarch.
“They wanted to skip out on the rent,” Stephanie Parker, Danielle’s mother, told The Daily News. “They were only supposed to stay a month. They were on the way to a family shelter.”
The Parker family claimed they never tried to collect the money, so they didn’t understand why the disgruntled tenant allegedly turned to violence.
“This is the first we’ve heard of this,” Stephanie asked. “Why would someone pull out a gun and shoot my daughter?”
She also wants justice for Danielle, saying, “It’s heartbreaking. It’s a bad dream I’m never going to wake up from. This gun violence needs to stop. I want them caught.”
Amani wonders if she and her family are safe, as police haven’t caught the alleged shooter.
“His 4-year-old daughter and my daughters go to the same school,” she said. “Who knows what he’s going to do?”
Now, the family has a tough decision to make. Because Danielle is brain-dead, Stephanie now has to decide whether or not to take her daughter off life support.
“We have to make a family decision to take her off life support because they say she’s gonna never recover. She will never wake up.”
We are praying for Danielle and her family.