The Girl Who Embraced All: DaChe’na Warren-Hill Story Part 1
By La’Crystele Brown
FWIS Contributing Writer
DaChe’na Warren-Hill was a young, beautiful, and bright young lady. DaChe’na was like the glue to her family, she had strong bonds with her parents and all of her siblings. She was the mama bear of the siblings, so much so that people often commented to Danisha Warren that her daughter acted just like her. From a young age DaChe’na was a leader, a great friend, and a well-behaved child. DaChe’na’s teachers would talk about how much of a leader she was. DaChe’na went out for class president, her fourth-grade year she won, and her fifth-grade year she lost. DaChe’na was a determined young lady and when she wanted something she went after it. DaChe’na became a vegetarian when she was in the seventh grade, and she never ate meat again.
In middle school DaChe’na was a cheerleader from sixth grade through eighth grade. During DaChe’na’s cheer career she was known as a leader and a great friend.
DaChe’na Warren-Hill was a friend to any walk of life, it didn’t matter who people were or where they came from, she would see the good in people no matter what. DaChe’na attended North Side High School where she continued to love cheerleading and dancing. She met her first love, during her junior year of high school. After school DaChe’na and her siblings would help their mother at her in-home daycare as well as her center once her business expanded. DaChe’na loved children especially her niece, Dior, they had a very close bond and she was like a second mother to her. DaChe’na started working full time at her mother’s daycare center after graduating high school. She helped her mother further her business, she was always there, and she saw the vision, the goal, and the entrepreneurial drive in her mother. She always wanted to be there to help, she even attended Anthis Career Center to obtain her CDA license, but DaChe’na’s dream was to become a vegan chef. The legacy she leaves behind is being an amazing friend, daughter, sibling, and person to those who knew her.
On November 19, 2023, DaChe’na was killed by a police officer at the age of 20 years old. After an altercation with her boyfriend, she was shot multiple times in her vehicle.
DaChe’na and her boyfriend continued to date up until the day of her death. Their relationship seemed normal to her parents. They did not know she had been a victim of domestic violence, until after her death. Friends informed DaChe’na’s mother after her death. Her friends also let her mother know that she went and got a new tattoo on her arm every time her boyfriend hit her. This saddened her mother because her daughter didn’t deserve that and because she didn’t know.
Danisha would like to not only use DaChe’na’s story to bring awareness to domestic violence, but she would also like to use her story to bring awareness to the police killings going unnoticed in Fort Wayne, IN. Danisha connected with another mother whose child was 18 years old and killed by an officer in Fort Wayne in November of 2022. It was reported that the young man had a gun in his possession, but he was shot from behind. The mother who lost her child in 2022 expressed that she’d tried to fight it, but she lacked the resources and the support of the community. Danisha is doing everything in her power to get her daughter’s story out there and get the support of the community. Danisha has been hosting fundraisers, posting on social media, buying billboards with donations, and asking questions in attempt to get more answers about what happened to her daughter.
Prosecutors have DaChe’na’s story on their desk and her mother has been informed that they will let her know in early February if the officer that killed DaChe’na Warren-Hill, will be charged. Danisha expressed that she didn’t understand why it was taking so long to at least make an arrest, because had this been a regular citizen, they’d already be arrested and locked away until proven innocent.
Danisha has yet to see body cam footage or receive her daughter’s autopsy report. When viewing her body in the funeral home for the first time DaChe’na’s parents saw that bullets didn’t enter her body from the front.
Danisha’s next fundraiser for DaChe’na will be held on February 3, 2024 at Northside Park Upper Pavilion from 4pm-7:30pm. Come out learn more about DaChe’na’s story.