A week ago Tuesday, 2-year-old Sa’Raija Watson was shot in her head and stomach while riding in her mother’s car in Steubenville.
"I hope she recovers. She showed us she's strong and she's a fighter so I'm just waiting for her to come back and be the normal little girl she was,” said Watson's mother, Mahogany Luke.
Users of the WPXI News App were among the first to know of this exclusive interview. Click here to learn more about how you can keep Channel 11 with you on the go.
Luke was also shot in her stomach and leg.
"I'm just trying to stay strong for her, and I have other kids and I can't crumble for them," Luke said.
TRENDING NOW:
- Tornado Watch, Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued
- 'I can't feel my body' said Georgia prep football player who collapsed, later died
- 11 things to know to stay safe during a tornado
- VIDEO: Pizza delivery driver hailed a hero for saving woman
- DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
For the last week, Luke has been by Watson's side after she was flown to Children’s Hospital.
Watson is sedated.
The man who police say shot the little girl and her mom is still on the run. Detectives said the is Brylee West.
“I really don't know him. I don't know if he didn't like something I said on Snapchat on Facebook because I never said a word to him. I've never met him in person,” Luke said.
Channel 11 reported over the weekend that the manhunt came to Beaver Falls when SWAT surrounded a home for hours thinking he was inside.
The woman who lived there told police she let him stay there, but he was long gone.
Luke is hoping he's in police custody soon.
"Turn himself in! I don't understand why he would do this to me or my daughter," Luke said.
Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/XCUXZC2XYZHCRGNNGKFEX6U3LQ.png)
