14-year-old girl shot dead at birthday party in New York

A 14-year-old girl dancing at a friend's birthday party was shot through a window by someone in the back yard and died in her sister's arms, police said.

Photo: 14-year-old girl shot dead at birthday party in New York

"She was on the ground, and she got up and start running to the steps, and I chased her," said Ashley Baker, the victim's younger sister. "And then she fell down the steps on me. And then a few moments later she took her last breath."

The Saturday night house party was attended by about 50 people, said Suffolk County police, who found Danielle Baker dead inside. No arrests had been made by Sunday evening.

Danielle's friends and relatives cried and hugged each other on the street. They said Danielle, one of five children, was well liked and was involved in activities at Copiague Middle School, where she had an A average and would have graduated in June.

"I know in my heart that that was my gem," her dad, Cordell Baker, told WNBC-TV. "She was better than diamonds, better than pearls. She was something God sent me,"reports the AP.

I.L.