Mom Tried to Murder Daughter’s Alleged Sex Abuser, But Another Man Died: 'Took the Law into Her Own Hands'

A Georgia mother accused of trying to kill her daughter’s alleged sexual abuser was convicted of murder and other criminal charges after the wrong person died in a violent incident initiated by the mother, authorities said.

On March 22, a jury found Danyale Harris, 42, guilty of felony murder, aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony in connection with the 2020 incident, the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office announced in a Friday press release.

According to prosecutors, on March 31, 2020, Harris allegedly discovered a video showing her young daughter being abused by a 22-year-old man, later identified as Antonio Harley. Subsequently, Harris tried to “take the law into her own hands,” the release states.

The next day, around 3:30 a.m., she reported the information to a Dekalb County police officer, who told her that detectives would get back to her. Additionally, the officer “warned her not to let her anger get the best of her and not to try to get revenge,” the release states.

But hours later, authorities said Harris drove a large group of people to an apartment complex to confront Harley. Harris and three of the people she brought with her were armed with handguns, prosecutors said.

According to authorities, Harris told her daughter to point out Harley’s apartment. Harris then knocked on the door, the group following her. Prosecutors said Harley did not open the door, but instead approached from the side of the apartment building to check who was there. That’s when 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,” prosecutors said in the release. “Harley’s brother, who was inside the apartment, fired back in an effort to protect himself and five of his younger siblings who were just feet away inside the apartment.”

Juan Newkirk, 19, who was part of the group that had come to the apartment complex with Harris, was struck and killed in the shooting, authorities said.

After being found guilty, Harris was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, plus five years, prosecutors said.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. 

According to prosecutors, two others involved in the confrontation were also charged, though their names were not shared in the release.

Additionally, Harley was charged with statutory rape, child molestation, and sexual exploitation of children, the release states. Prosecutors said his case is pending. It’s unclear if he has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf.  

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.