Case of 5 Year Old Girl Injured on Playground Has Been Closed

The Pascagoula Police Department has closed its investigation of the case of a five year old girl, AvaLynn Harris, who suffered injuries on the school playground.

Police determined the child was injured in a playground accident and no criminal activity occurred. Pictures of Harris were posted on Facebook last week by her mother, Lacey Harris. Police and the Pascagoula School District have confirmed the injuries were sustained at school.

The story has attracted national media attention and News 25 went to Pascagoula for answers. Last week, Harris was injured at school, and since then, many versions of what happened have surfaced through social media. Wednesday, the Pascagoula Police Department concluded its investigation of the incident, saying that it was an accident, and that no crimes were committed, but parents are still shocked something like that could happen at school.

Danielle Wilson, the mother of a 7 year old who goes to AvaLynn’s school, says, "I was shocked. My son attends that school and I wouldn’t know what to do if it was him."

Takira Baxter-Rudolph, mother and Case Aid Worker with the Mississippi Department of Human Services, says, "I was outraged just looking at the pictures on Facebook. I couldn’t understand what they were saying was the reason, it just didn’t make sense to me."

This story received national media attention through Facebook posts and support groups, but much of the information was misleading and posed a problem for investigators. Capt. Shannon Massey of the Pascagoula Police Department says, "At some points, it was positive for us. We developed a witness though it. At some points, it was very negative that there was so much misinformation given out that some people, in my opinion, don’t know what to believe."

The police report indicates that AvaLynn may have suffered an accident in the school yard, most likely falling off a slide. Some Facebook accounts say that her injuries may have been caused by other students, but a fight between kindergarteners is not a crime under Mississippi law. Capt. Massey also says, "If a 5 year old assaults another 5 year old, they are not held criminally liable for it."

The police report states that AvaLynn’s injuries are the result of an accident, not an assault, but if one were to have occurred, there would be several determining factors involved in finding any criminal responsibility in such a case. The report officially closes the investigation, but some parents feel they don’t have the full story. Wilson also says, "I do believe there is more to it than what they are saying, and everyone deserves justice regardless of age."

Some will be keeping a closer eye on their children after seeing this story. Baxter-Rudolph closes, "It just makes me want to hold my kids a little closer. We’re out here right now. I have to watch them, watch what’s going on. You just never know what’s going on around us."