Teenager killed in Clarksville, Tennessee leaves behind newborn

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – A family is mourning the death of a young mother who was shot and killed in a Clarksville home last week. Police identified another teenager as the “primary perpetrator.”

According to Clarksville Police, a 911 call came in just before 9 a.m. on Thursday, June 20, reporting someone firing a gun inside a residence in the 1900 block of Timberline Way. When officers arrived at the scene, they found two people shot, including Bra’Anna Harbison.

“She was very well loved and it’s just heartbreaking,” Bra’Anna’s cousin Faye Cutler told News 2.

Bra’Anna was only 16 years old when she died.

“She was the little girl. I would say she was fun-loving and full of energy,” Cutler described.

Although Bra’Anna was the youngest girl in the family with three older brothers, she was also a young mother.

“She was so excited to be a mother,” Cutler said.

Bra’Anna gave birth to her daughter just 10 days before her murder.

“Just thinking about it breaks my heart,” Cutler said.

According to Cutler, Bra’Anna’s mother heard the shots fired at her home on Timberline Way last week: “She just heard a shot, a shot, another shot.”

Authorities reported that another 16-year-old — who Bra’Anna’s family identified as the father of her newborn baby — was also found shot to death in the Clarksville apartment and was flown to a Nashville hospital, but is still recovering. Investigators said they determined the teen was the “primary perpetrator” in the “domestic” shooting, adding that murder charges are pending.

This loss is hard to comprehend when you leave a baby behind.

“She has to grow up without her mother and father. Of course we will love her as much as we can and try to fill that void, but nothing can replace the love of a mother,” Cutler explained.

This is not the first time the Harbison family has faced gun violence. Bra’Anna’s brother, Chri’Shawn Harbison, was shot and killed in 2021. He was only 19 years old.

“What do we need to do as a community to come together to prevent this from happening again?” asked Cutler.

This question is weighing heavily on the victims’ families as they wait for justice for the deaths of Bra’Anna and her brother.

“Trying to make people understand the consequences of violence hurts everyone, and that’s why we just want to come together as a community, as a family, in love and peace,” Cutler said.

A vigil in Bra’Anna’s honor will be held on Wednesday, June 26 at 6:30 p.m. at Hartman Park in North Nashville.

A GoFundMe page has also been set up to help the Harbison family during this difficult time. If you would like to donate, click here.