A 14-year-old Newnan girl is recovering after she was struck in the head with a golf club during a fight near her bus stop, leading to the arrests of two teenage sisters and their mother.
Kiera Harps was taken to an Atlanta-area hospital after the incident Monday and later released. Her family said she is awake and alert and required staples for a head injury.
Newnan police said officers responded to Ball Street at about 6:40 p.m. following a 911 call reporting an assault with injuries. Investigators determined that a physical altercation had taken place and that the 14-year-old had been hit in the head with a golf club.
Police later identified three people arrested in connection with the case: 36-year-old Curtisia Anya Heath and her two daughters, who are 15 and 16 years old. All three are facing aggravated assault charges, according to the latest reporting. The two teenagers were taken to a regional youth detention facility, while Heath was booked into the Coweta County Jail.
Family says dispute began online
Kiera’s family said the confrontation followed online bullying involving the two teenage girls, who also ride the same bus as Kiera.
Her older sister, Jasmine Osirio, said she went to the bus stop Monday in an attempt to speak with the teens’ mother and resolve the situation. She said the confrontation escalated into a physical fight.
Osirio also provided cellphone video of the incident. According to the family’s account, the video shows the 16-year-old striking Kiera with a golf club. Police have said the teenagers’ mother provided the club.
Osirio said Kiera was bleeding after the blow and later passed out. She also said she was struck with the golf club during the confrontation.
Kiera’s mother, Syrite Harps, described the incident as frightening and said she initially feared her daughter had died after seeing her lying on the ground and unresponsive.
“I thought she was dead,” Harps said.
The family said Kiera has since been released from the hospital and is continuing her recovery.
Three people face aggravated assault charges
The two teenage suspects were taken to a regional youth detention facility following their arrests. Heath was taken to the Coweta County Jail, according to the latest available report.
Police initially said additional details about the case were limited while the investigation was developing. Authorities asked anyone with information about the incident to contact the Newnan Police Department at 770-254-2355.
A GoFundMe fundraiser has also been established to help Kiera’s family with expenses related to her recovery.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the allegations against those arrested have not been proven in court.
