Woman shot in head in Queens apartment was fleeing for her life, according to her mother.

In a tragic incident that unfolded in East Elmhurst, Queens, a 21-year-old woman named Dashanna Donovan lost her life following a violent confrontation with a masked assailant who pursued her into her own home. The fatal event occurred on the evening of September 12, 2025, around 9:20 p.m., when Donovan was shot in the head just as she reached the doorway of her bathroom. She was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities dispatched to the residence on East 96th Street, near Astoria Boulevard, found Donovan collapsed in the bathroom’s doorway, indicating that she had attempted to flee from her attacker. According to police reports, multiple gunshots were fired, and shell casings were recovered at the site. While law enforcement officials have confirmed that Donovan was the intended target, details regarding the assailant, including whether he was indeed wearing a mask at the time, remain unclear.

Witnesses associated with the victim, including her mother Helena Hypolite, shed light on the events leading up to the shooting. Hypolite recounted that her daughter had just returned from her shift at McDonald’s and was seated outside her apartment, engaged in a phone conversation with a friend when the suspect approached. The mother indicated that Donovan noticed the man approaching and instinctively ran for safety inside her home, but tragically, the gunman followed her.

Helena Hypolite expressed deep sorrow in her public statements, describing her daughter as a uniquely kind and compassionate person who brought warmth and positivity to those around her. The devastated mother lamented the violence that led to her daughter’s untimely death, urging for an end to gun violence. She highlighted the pain and loss felt by families who suffer similar tragedies, emphasizing that violence is not the answer.

According to media reports, Donovan had moved back to New York from South Carolina just three months prior, and details regarding her social circle and potential motives for the attack remain under investigation. Police have not yet made any arrests nor publicly identified any suspects in connection with the case. As the community reels from this profound loss, calls for justice and an end to senseless violence continue to grow louder amidst ongoing investigations.

The tragic story of Dashanna Donovan stands as a somber reminder of the urgent need to address issues related to gun violence and personal safety in urban communities across the nation. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are asking anyone with information to come forward.