A Louisville high school student who was praised earlier this year for defending a 12-year-old girl from alleged sexual harassment has been killed in a shooting, only three months after he survived a stabbing during that encounter.
Da’Jon Hayes-Burr, 15, died after being shot Saturday night in Shawnee, a west Louisville neighborhood in Kentucky, according to WAVE. His grieving family called his death “tragic and senseless.”
Authorities have charged a 14-year-old boy with murder in connection with the fatal shooting.
Hayes-Burr, who was preparing to enter his sophomore year of high school, had recently been recognized for his courage after intervening at the Thunder Over Louisville airshow in April, when 12-year-old Bristol Staisel was allegedly targeted by 45-year-old Vasilis Sakellaridis.
According to WDRB, Sakellaridis allegedly directed obscene remarks at the girl, leading her to yell “pedophile” before Hayes-Burr stepped forward to help.
The teen and his friends reportedly moved in to protect Staisel, forming a barrier around her before taking the man to the ground.
“He [Sakellaridis] had pure evil in his eyes – that’s the way I can describe it,” Staisel’s mother, Kristyn, told WDRB.
Sakellaridis, who is from Oregon, allegedly stabbed Hayes-Burr in the stomach during the incident, but the Louisville teen was later widely commended for stepping in to protect the young girl.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear presented the boy with a letter and a challenge coin, an award that recognizes bravery.
Despite being knifed, the teen revealed why he intervened.
“Since I got a little sister, I wanted…if something happened to my little sister, I’d want somebody to help,” he told WAVE.
Staisel said she wanted to make Hayes-Burr a bracelet to say thank you, and Kristyn hailed his bravery.
“Finding out a 15-year-old was harmed — three years older than my daughter — just devastated me,” Kristyn said.
“Somebody else’s child got hurt defending mine. He put his life on the line, and for that I’m forever grateful. Those kids are heroes beyond heroes.
“Not only did they save her, but they potentially saved another child that night.”
Sakellaridis was armed with brass knuckles, appeared to be intoxicated and was said to be belligerent to responding medics, according to arrest documents seen by WAVE.
He was “highly intoxicated and causing alarm to other event participants,” police said.
Beshear has led the tributes to Hayes-Burr after news of his death emerged.
“Britainy and I are praying for Da’Jon’s family and all those affected by this tragedy,” he said in a statement.
“Da’Jon was a child of God whose life was taken far too soon, and his bravery and selflessness will leave a lasting impact on the Louisville community and our commonwealth.”
In a fundraiser designed to help the student’s mom Lakeita, family friends said he was a “remarkable young person whose courage and kindness touched everyone.”
“He was only 15 years old and was looking forward to starting his sophomore year in high school this August—a future now heartbreakingly cut short,” they added.
“Lakeita is facing the unimaginable pain of losing her child, and the family is now confronted with unexpected funeral expenses.”
Sakellaridis was charged with assault, public intoxication, disorderly conduct and fleeing police. He pleaded not guilty to the charges at his arraignment in April.
