Haniyah Woods was fatally shot on Sept. 3, 2016, at the 100 block of South 10th Street in Newark and was later pronounced dead after she had been transported to the hospital.
NEWARK - A teacher's aide at West Side High School said Sunday that it will be difficult for her to go back to school without Haniyah Woods, the incoming sophomore who sought her out every morning before the day started.
It won't be the same, Iesha Daniels said, without Haniyah, who started calling her "mom" after people at school suggested they looked alike.
Daniels said she doesn't yet know the school's plan to address the death of Woods, who was fatally shot in the early morning hours on Saturday. Woods would have been starting her school year at West Side when school resumes on Tuesday.
Woods was fatally shot at the 100 block of South 10th Street in Newark and was later pronounced dead after she had been transported to the hospital.
"She really touched my heart. It was genuine. It wasn't fake or phony. This is a tragedy. Just a tragedy," Daniels said.
Daniels said Woods was a dancer in the school's band troupe and had a core group of girlfriends.
Darrell Shoulars, director of bands and the leadership and membership of the West Side Campus Marching Band and Drum Corps, posted online that he spoke for the band and drum corps when he said that they loved Woods and that she would be "forever in our hearts.
"To the Woods family, my staff and I and the entire West Side Campus Family are here for you during your time of healing and bereavement! We love you and God will see us all through this!" he wrote.
While funeral arrangements could not be confirmed as of Sunday, Daniels said the school had counselors who would be available to talk with Woods' classmates.
Requests for comment from Woods' family were not immediately returned.
Another woman, who is 25, was grazed in the shooting and taken to the hospital. Neither her name nor condition have been released. A spokesman for the Essex County's Prosecutor's Office said Sunday that the investigation was active and ongoing, but had no further updates.
Sara Jerde may be reached at sjerde@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SaraJerde.