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Dancing Dolls Coach Dianna Williams confirmed that DD4L’s DyShea Upshaw has passed away. Although all the details of the Georgia teen’s death have not been confirmed to the public yet, posts written by friends, family, and initial news accounts indicate that she was a victim of gun violence.

WSBTV reported that “DeKalb County Police [had] identified the victims in a shooting outside a Kroger shopping center,” One of which, was presumed to be DyShea. Shots were fired late that Sunday evening, which police suspected to be the result of two groups in a disagreement. The verbal altercation resulted in one group shooting out of their car at the other.  

On June 12,  Williams took to Facebook to expressed, “One of my Dolls is gone. I do NOT understand, and no, I AM NOT ok!! Jesus Lord!!!! She was fearless and would always try to elevate herself and everyone else in the dollhouse…She was always encouraging her sisters and motivating everyone! She always was someone I could count on to have LOUD HAIR. She was my “DAH SHEEKEE!”…….. why…. I am at a loss for words… just why….Im going to miss your laughter!! Im going to miss your smile!! Please keep her family, friends and the ENTIRE Dancing Dolls organization in prayer.:… we are NOT ok!”

One grieving member posted to Facebook, “My heart hurts for your family DyShea… For our entire dance family. This is not okay. We are not okay. This gun violence has got to stop!” 

Tragedy struck earlier this year after the death of a majorette, Shakira Gatlin, of the Lifetime hit show Bring It!. The Jackson, Mississippi, community is still recovering from her sudden passing. 

According to the Pew Research Center, “The 45,222 total gun deaths in 2020 were by far the most on record, representing a 14% increase from the year before, a 25% increase from five years earlier and a 43% increase from a decade prior.

“Gun murders, in particular, have climbed sharply in recent years.”