Family of slain 2-year-old asks for help to track down killer
WELDON, N.C. (WTVD) -- The Weldon community is up in arms after two related shootings earlier this week that wounded three adults and killed two children, including 2-year-old Dyana Anderson.
"Little Dyana Anderson had her whole life before her," said Weldon Police Chief Mark Macon. "Some evil person or persons decided to take it away."
No one has been arrested for Dyana's shooting, which happened at a home on Cedar Street. Her grandmother was shot several times.
Dyana's family joined Weldon's police chief as he begged for tips that would lead to Dyana's killer.
"Help us, because an innocent baby got killed," said Torie Ponton, the little girl's great-aunt.
Ponton confirmed rumors that Dyana's shooting may have been some sort of payback.
"We know it was retaliation," she said, "and we don't know if the rest of the family might get shot up and whatever."
She believes the shooting was spurred by the killing of 15-year-old Keyuon Garner, which happened three hours before Dyana's shooting. He and two others were shot just outside Weldon in Halifax County. The other two were not seriously wounded.
Nineteen-year-old Samaj Clanton has been charged in those shootings. Now the search continues for a second suspect, 18-year-old Teddy Anderson Jr., the uncle of Dyana.
"He is considered to be armed and dangerous," said Halifax County Sheriff Wes Tripp. "Anyone that should come in contact with Mr. Anderson is urged to call 911."
Dyana's family says they can't bear to return to the home on Cedar Street where the little girl was shot.
The home has become a makeshift memorial with balloons that say "princess" and a teddy bear that says "rest in peace."
Dyana's grandmother was hit seven times by bullets, according to her husband, who says she is doing well but still has a long road to recovery.
"She's got to have surgery tomorrow anyway," said her husband, Larry Price. "She got shot here, here, all down into here."
Price also believes someone out there knows who killed his granddaughter, and he urged them to do the right thing.
