BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

Last July, the life of Ms. Vanetta Scott changed forever. Ms. Iesha Washington, her 18-year-old daughter, was fatally wounded while attending a party.

At the time of the tragedy, Iesha was a rising senior at Spoto and would have graduated this month. On Thursday evening, her mother will accept her diploma instead.

Ms. Scott said, “I am so grateful to the school board, the principal, and the assistant principal for this. I’m just grateful and honored to know that she will get her diploma. The school is giving me and my family a table, at the graduation ceremony.

“I’m grateful that I’m still standing and it has almost been a year. I just need people to know that God is good, and I put my trust in him daily and consistently. I have been ill, I have been in the hospital, but I’m still here. I thank God because He has given me some peace to know that He is too wise to make a mistake,” Ms. Scott said.

Ms. Scott said Iesha planned to seek a career as an ESE teacher.

Iesha and Craig Thompson were both fatally wounded while attending a party. The shooting took place at the International Chemical Workers Union Council, Local 439, July 29, 2011.

During the investigation, law enforcement determined that more than one person fired the fatal shots at the party.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrested Tyrell Sidney Bragg and charged him with the murder of Iesha Washington. He is currently awaiting trial.

No arrest has been made in the shooting of Thompson. However, the investigation is continuing.

The graduation ceremony will take place at 4:30 p.m., on Thursday, June 7th, at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

Pictured: Ms. Vannetta Scott, center, is shown with two of her daughters, Ishia Washington, left, and Iesha Washington, on the right.