It was around 8:15 am when the police were called to Tejas Park in the 500 block of Hafer Avenue. Police say an officer arrived and found the teenager in the grass, unresponsive and covered in blood on her chest.
Jania’s death was soon determined to be a homicide. According to the medical examiner, he was shot twice in the torso.
“He took my best friend from me. He took my best friend from me. Truly, she was my best friend,” said her mother, Angie Tatum.
Jania was a student at Sterling High School in Goose Creek CISD, where she ran track and cross country, earning a letterman jacket.
Her mother says that Jania loved the teachers, coaches and her principal, and had big dreams for a future in the Navy.
“She was going to the Army. She was going to go to the Navy for nursing. She can’t do that anymore,” Angie said.
This shocking death comes without warning, rhyme or reason.
“My daughter was famous around Baytown,” Angie told ABC 13. “Everybody loved him. Nobody’s doing well right now. I’m not doing well. I don’t know if I’m ever going to be good about it.”
Goose Creek CISD says they are aware of Jania’s death and are ready to support staff when school resumes in January.
Baytown Police are still working to work out a timeline for Jania’s death. Her mother says she last saw her daughter on Monday night around 11 pm when she went to bed. She believes her daughter left her apartment to visit someone that night, telling ABC 13 that the teen left behind a half-eaten meal.
The police are still looking for information and are appealing to the people for help.
Baytown Police Chief John Stringer said: “There’s no information that’s too short that wouldn’t help us with this case.”
You can leave an anonymous tip with Baytown Crime Stoppers at 281-427-TIPS (8477).
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