Tayloni Mazyck, 13, has needed a wheelchair to get around ever since she was paralyzed by a Brooklyn, N.Y., gang member two years ago after being caught in the crossfire of a gang shooting.
On Monday, according to the New York Post, the teen faced her shooter in Brooklyn Supreme Court. Young Bosses gang member Kane Cooper was targeting a rival Gates Avenue Mafia gang member in May 2013 when a stray bullet hit the then-11-year-old.
Cooper was sentenced to 17 years in prison.
While reading her prepared statement to the shooter, the teen reportedly burst into tears, so her older brother, Daiquan, took her place.
“Because of your actions, I have known pain and endured more pain in my short life than most people,” the 17-year-old, who was also emotional, read from his sister’s statement. “I’m not as active as I used to be. I can’t even run track or play double Dutch, even swim. You need to walk to do all of these things. Thanks a lot for nothing.”
According to the Post, Tayloni says she suffers from “emotional distress, depression, anxiety and PTSD,” and has struggled with recovering.
“I live in a cramped apartment, and I’m always bumping into the walls. If I were still able to walk, I wouldn’t have that problem,” she wrote.
Read more at the New York Post.