"This is the worst thing anyone can experience," Riley Daugherty's mother Amy told 10 Tampa Bay. She adds the family is "beyond touched" by the community support.
TAMPA, Fla. — People across Tampa are rallying around a family after the tragic loss of 3-year-old Riley Daugherty.
According to Tampa police, Daugherty fell out of a four-story apartment window Sunday at the Mosaic Westshore Apartments in Tampa. She died in the ICU a few days later. Police believe it was a tragic accident.
While there is an ongoing investigation into the fall, there are no criminal charges pending at this time.
Now, the young girl's gymnastics coach and Star Gymnastics community are rallying around the Daugherty family.
"As soon as she stepped into this gym, all eyes were on her," said Coach Nikki Ferreiro, who worked with both the 3-year-old and her older sister for years. "It wasn't just because of her curly blond hair or her big brown eyes or her baby belly. It was because of her infectious energy and her laugh.
"We could have 20 kids and Riley would do a cartwheel across the gym and everybody would scream like, 'Go, Riley!'"
Now, there's a hole in the heart of the Star Gymnastics gym.
"It's a huge loss to the community," Ferreiro said. "The girls have stepped up tremendously. They wanted to find out her favorite color so they could wear it all week.
"Everybody is trying to show their love and support the best way possible, but it still doesn't feel real."
As the Daugherty family grieves this loss, the child's mother Amy told 10 Tampa Bay:
"Riley was the sweetest, happiest, spunkiest little girl I've ever seen. She brought joy to every person she met. She loved all animals and everyone in her life. Our family is beyond touched by the amount of kindness and sympathy this community has shown us. This is the worst thing anyone can experience. The amount of support does help give us a small amount of comfort during this horrific time."
Ferreiro is leading fundraising efforts which will go towards the family's medical bills and the cost of funeral arrangements. You can find the GoFundMe page by clicking here. Ferreiro said the group 'Moms of South Tampa' is also starting a food drive for the family.
