Who is Deaira Summers? Detroit girl, 11, demands justice after 12-year-old girl pours acid on her during playground fight
DETROIT, MICHIGAN: In a shocking incident, a 12-year-old girl has been charged with assault for allegedly flinging acid at an 11-year-old girl during a playground fight. The Wayne County Prosecutor, Kym Worthy, has charged the older girl with assault with intent to do great bodily harm and felonious assault in connection with the incident that occurred at a school park on July 9.
Deaira Summers and her mother, Dominique, have spoken out about the horrifying attack. According to Deaira, she was at the park with her siblings and a cousin when a fight broke out between her cousin and the older girl. After the fight ended, the other girl threatened them, saying, "I got something for you all." That "something" turned out to be acid, according to prosecutors.
Who is Deaira Summers?
Summers sustained severe burns on her back, arms and legs, resulting in her spending four days in the hospital. She now faces ongoing challenges with walking and dressing. Expressing hope for getting justice, Summers said, "I hope she gets what she deserves, and they all get what they deserve." A GoFundMe page has been created by her grandmother to assist with her medical expenses, who stated the child was "lucky to be alive."
According to Summers' family, she now faces ongoing challenges with walking. Dominique said, "It takes maybe two hours what used to be 20 minutes getting dressed," Summers explained. "It takes about 2 hours to give her her medicine. I have to give her medication 30 minutes before she takes a bath."
Worthy confirmed that the 12-year-old suspect was facing charges of felony assault and intent to do great bodily harm. The identity of the 12-year-old suspect has not been disclosed, and it remains unclear if she has entered a plea.
Furthermore, the prosecutor's office was investigating whether an adult should be charged, as Summers' family alleged that the suspect's mother provided the acid for the attack as a result of the fight at the park. Worthy stated, "This is an extremely troubling set of allegations. Instant horrible decision-making can have lifelong effects on others. There is no excuse for this."
'It just started burning'
Describing the incident, Dominique alleged, "Her mother met her in the park, by the park and gave her the substance, the chemical, to throw on the kids. And she told the kids, that's what they get for messing with her daughter." The attack occurred when Summers returned to the park to retrieve her purse, and the 12-year-old suspect, referred to as a "bystander" by prosecutors, doused her with acid.
"Two seconds after it hit me, it just started burning," Summers said, while Dominique added, "Smoke was coming off her body from head to toe and holes were coming in her clothes." The suspect has been ordered to have no contact with the victim or witnesses and is scheduled to appear in court.
Authorities were also investigating the potential involvement of an adult in the case. “Whoever was involved with her, I would like them all to be arrested for what they did to my daughter," Dominique said, adding, "I hope she get what she deserve, and they all get what they deserve." According to the prosecutor's office, the 12-year-old suspect is slated to appear in court and faces a $10,000 bond.
What is the punishment for acid attacks in Detroit?
The punishment for an acid attack in Detroit, Michigan, depends on the specific circumstances of the case and the severity of the harm caused to the victim. Acid attacks are considered serious crimes, and perpetrators can face various charges, such as assault with intent to do great bodily harm or felonious assault.
Under Michigan law, assault with intent to do great bodily harm is a felony punishable by imprisonment for up to 10 years or a fine of up to $5,000, or both. Felonious assault, which involves the use of a dangerous weapon with the intent to cause physical harm, carries a penalty of imprisonment for up to four years or a fine of up to $2,000, or both. However, it's important to note that specific penalties can vary depending on the circumstances and the defendant's age, especially when dealing with juvenile offenders. The court will consider factors such as the defendant's age, criminal history and the severity of the injuries caused when determining an appropriate punishment.