DOUGLAS, Ga. (WALB) - Douglas Police (DPD) said an adult is facing charges after investigators reportedly determined she helped a juvenile during a stabbing involving two children on March 26.

Douglas Police Chief Brannon Pruette said officers were called out around 8 p.m. on March 26 for a report of a juvenile who had been stabbed.

According to Pruette, investigators learned that a fight between juveniles escalated into a stabbing. A redacted incident report lists the victim as 15 and the other juvenile involved as 12.

During interviews with witnesses, police determined the 12-year-old suspect’s mother was also involved — not by stabbing, Pruette said, but by allegedly tripping the victim into bushes, which police believe led to the child being stabbed more times.

Charges filed

Pruette said the juvenile accused of stabbing the other child was taken to the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) that night.

He said the mother, Khadija Hayward, was later arrested on a warrant and charged with aggravated assault.

A redacted incident report lists the offense as aggravated assault and places the complaint location in Douglas on Wynn Avenue.

Chief’s message to parents

Pruette said cases involving juveniles are especially difficult — and he said adults who witness fights should intervene to stop situations from escalating.

“Anytime anything is involved with juveniles, it’s a sad story,” Pruette said, adding that conflicts should be resolved without violence or weapons.

He also urged parents to focus on de-escalation.

“Everybody talks about how law enforcement needs to de-escalate a situation,” Pruette said. “That’s the same thing with parents.”

Pruette said the most recent update he had was that the 15-year-old victim was “up and walking around.”

Police have not released a motive for the fight. Pruette said he did not know what the juveniles were fighting over.

WALB is working to learn more. Stay with us.

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