LOWELL, Mass. – A 15-year-old girl was tragically shot and killed by her 21-year-old boyfriend just moments before she was set to attend her 8th-grade graduation. The incident occurred on June 14 in Lawrence Street, Lowell, Massachusetts. Ahliana Dickey’s grandmother contacted the police after discovering her granddaughter’s lifeless body at their residence.
Trevor Bady, a resident of Tewksbury, has been arrested and charged with the fatal shooting of Dickey. Authorities have revealed that the couple was involved in an abusive relationship. When Dickey failed to show up for her graduation earlier in the day, her family grew concerned and went to her home to check on her.
Upon arriving at the scene, the police discovered the teenage victim lying on the ground in a first-floor bedroom with evident gunshot wounds. Several shell casings were also found in the vicinity, according to the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office.
Preliminary investigations revealed that at around midnight on June 14, the police received a call reporting a violent altercation between a male and female across the street from the victim’s home. The caller heard a female voice pleading for help and the sound of gunshots. However, the parties involved could not be located at the time. Video evidence retrieved from the area showed the victim calling out for assistance shortly before midnight, followed by the defendant leaving her house around the same time.
During a press conference on June 17, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan disclosed that the shooting occurred six weeks after Dickey’s 15th birthday. Bady has been charged with murder, home invasion, and multiple firearm-related offenses.
Bady appeared in court on June 18, where he was held without bail, as confirmed by NBC10 Boston. The victim’s grandmother, Tracy Smith, expressed her indignation, labeling Bady as a “coward” for not showing his face in court.
Information provided by the District Attorney’s Office suggests that the defendant used an Uber to travel to and from the victim’s residence before and after the crime. The driver later reported suspicions and concerns about the passenger, who was allegedly identified as Bady.
Authorities managed to apprehend Bady without incident at a residence in Peabody on the afternoon of June 17. Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page initiated by the victim’s parents has amassed nearly $12,000 in donations.
Cases of domestic violence should not be taken lightly. If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or visit thehotline.org for immediate assistance. The hotline operates 24/7 and offers support in over 170 languages.