Georgia Girl, 10, Dies After Tree Falls on Atlanta Home: ‘A Dream We Need to Be Woken Up from’

• A 10-year-old Georgia girl died on Saturday, May 3, after a tree fell on her family’s Atlanta home
• The family has since identified her as A’erica Shukai Dixon, with a GoFundMe description referring to her as a “very happy child” who loved TikTok, cheerleading and playing with her toys
• The Dixon family has since raised more than $18,000 toward a current $28,000 goal

A 10-year-old Georgia girl has died after a tree fell on her family’s home during a storm.

A’erica Shukai Dixon was killed on Saturday, May 3, at around 3 a.m. local time when a tree fell on her family’s home in Atlanta, according to a GoFundMe campaign launched by a cousin, who identified the girl.

At the time, A’erica — who lived in the home with her mom, two sisters and brother — was lying in bed with her grandmother, who sustained a broken pelvis and is “now paralyzed in one leg,” according to the fundraiser.

The home is located in the Mozley Park neighborhood, a spokesperson for the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department (AFRD) told PEOPLE in a statement. Crews responded to the scene for a “possible entrapment,” before learning that a 10-year-old girl succumbed to injuries from the tree’s impact.

Both the girl’s mother and grandmother were taken to a local hospital in stable condition, per the AFRD, and the American Red Cross has since been contacted to provide support to the family.

“The house just started shaking. Everything just crashed, and I see my mama running through the hallway to get to my grandma,” A’erica’s 14-year-old sister, Akiylah, told Atlanta News First.

“I broke down really bad because that wasn’t just my little sister. That was my best friend,” she added.

According to the outlet, police, firefighters and the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office remained at the scene for multiple hours as crews attempted to remove the tree.

Anaré Holmes, a spokesperson for the AFRD, told Atlanta News First that the 10-year-old’s death was a “tragedy” with “no other way to see it.”

“This morning, we’re saddened by the tragic passing of this young girl as a result of last night’s storms,” Georgia Governor Brian Kemp wrote in a post on X. “We ask that all Georgians join us in praying for her loved ones during this difficult time.”

Footage from the scene, shared by NBC affiliate WXIA, showed caution tape surrounding the large tree. According to the outlet, a portion of the tree previously fell during Hurricane Helene last year and smashed into the family’s white SUV.

“The landlord was informed about it, and they were supposed to cut the whole inside of the tree down so that this wouldn’t happen again,” a family member told WXIA. “And no one ever came back to cut it down.”

The relative added that the tragedy “feels like a dream that we need to be woken up from” and that A’erica’s mother had to be sedated in the hospital given the circumstances. “Because every time she wakes up, she is flipping out about her baby,” she said.

A’erica, whose family referred to her as Tink, lost her father two years ago, per the GoFundMe. Her family remembered her as “a very happy child,” a cheerleader and someone who loved to dance, film TikToks and play with her toys.

“We are trying to raise money at this hard time to help bury my lil cousin. Unfortunately, her mother can’t afford to bury A’erica at this time. Her death was unexpected, now we have to ask for help,” the fundraiser message said.

“The family would appreciate any donations for the funeral costs of A’erica,” the message continued. Anything is greatly appreciated. Thank you.”