Police are crediting a teenage girl with fighting off her mother and saving her young sister's life. Jamie Bradley-Brun, 37, allegedly killed her 6-year-old daughter, Mackaya, and reportedly tried to kill her 8-year-old girl before Bradley-Brun's oldest daughter came along and likely saved the child's life.
The incident has left family and friends saddened by the loss of such a young life. Now they are trying to raise funds to help support the children left behind after their mother's senseless act.
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The mother reportedly struggled with the children.
The deadly situation allegedly occurred May 19 at a home in St. Helena Island, South Carolina. Bradley-Brun's 16-year-old daughter was reportedly awakened by the sounds of screams coming from her 8-year-old sister. The teen sprang into action to fight off her mother. ABC News reported that the young teen wrestled with her mother in the bathroom to protect her younger sister while another family member called 911.
"I'm very proud of her. I think she did an unbelievable job," Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner said in a news conference, per ABC News. "She defended her family when no one else was available. Her courage is amazing."
Sadly, Mackaya died before emergency personnel arrived.
A release from the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office reported that a woman was trying to drown her child. Officers arrived just before 1:30 a.m. They detained the mother, and although the 8-year-old girl had been saved, her 6-year-old sister Mackaya, was dead when authorities arrived.
A struggle ensued when officers tried to arrest Bradley-Brun. ABC News reported that the mother tried to grab an officer's gun, so they tased her to subdue her.
A motive is under investigation.
Tanner addressed the media but gave few details about the case, ABC News reported. He claimed he is not specially trained to speculate on why Bradley-Brun allegedly did what some say she did.
"I'm not a mental health expert. It's not my job to determine if someone has a mental health problem," he said.
The sheriff declined to share more information regarding the case.
He said the remaining children are in the care of loved ones. He commented that Bradely-Brun did not have a previous arrest record in South Carolina. Authorities had been called to the home once in the past because a school employee had a mental health concern for one of the children, ABC News reported.
"There is a lot more information that we have and a lot more details that we know but at this point we can't share," Tanner said.
According to police, Bradley-Brun has been charged with murder and attempted murder and is being held without bond.
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The family created a GoFundMe account in Mackaya's memory.
Chrismine Jean-Baptiste created the fundraiser in honor of the young girl she lovingly referred to as KayKay. She wrote that the family is devastated over losing an innocent life.
"KayKay was a cheerful and energetic girl with such a kind spirit. Her 2 sisters were her best friends and she really loved her family and cousins," the page reads. "At her young age, she was a protective, courageous little girl who loved to dance, sing and play with her family."
The page has raised $2,400 of a $15,000 goal thus far. The family has asked for both donations and prayers.
