Family to woman after emotional reaction to sentencing in girl’s murder: ‘You are not the victim’

In Houston, Texas, Shawna Hooey, a Tomball woman convicted of fatally beating her boyfriend’s 4-year-old daughter, received her sentencing on Wednesday, with Eyewitness News present in the courtroom to witness the proceedings.

Hooey was handed a 50-year prison term, a verdict that prompted tears from both her and her family members. However, their emotional display was met with a stern response from the victim’s grandmother, Vonda Harris, during her impact statement following the sentencing.

“You are not the victim, Shawna,” Harris firmly stated.

According to prosecutors, Hooey, a mother of five, inflicted fatal injuries on Ja’Kyzia Alexander using a blunt object at her residence on Sept. 7, 2019. Despite her multiple children, Hooey vehemently denied any involvement in the crime.

The motive behind Hooey’s actions remains unclear, as she consistently denied responsibility for Ja’Kyzia’s death.

On the day of the tragic incident, Hooey reportedly took Ja’Kyzia to an emergency room and provided conflicting accounts of what had occurred. She initially claimed the child had collided with a toilet roll dispenser, but later changed her story, alleging it was caused by a door knob.

The medical examiner’s report revealed severe injuries, including brain bleeding, bleeding at the base of Ja’Kyzia’s eyes, and numerous bruises. Some of the injuries were determined to be several weeks old, indicating prolonged abuse.

April Alexander, the victim’s aunt, expressed disbelief at the notion that Ja’Kyzia could have inflicted such injuries on herself, given her small stature.

“She was a big part of our life. We don’t have a lot of girls in our family, so it’s a huge missing part of our life,” Alexander lamented.

Harris echoed similar sentiments, stating, “It’s hard. For four years, it’s been just miserable.”