Five details about Danyna Gibson's murder explored

The murder of Danyna Gibson at the hands of her classmate Tanaya Lewis took to the front pages of the newspaper in Michigan in 2018. Danyna was stabbed four times in her back and chest which led to her death on September 12, 2018.

Tanaya Lewis attacked Gibson while a class was ongoing, with 25-30 other students in attendance. While Danyna was declared dead an hour later, Tanaya was arrested on charges of first-degree murder.

The upcoming Mean Girl Murders episode, titled Straight A Killer, focuses on the brutal murder of the high school student in Warren. The official synopsis of the episode reads:

"At a Warren, Michigan, high school, it's the smart, ambitious kids who rule the school. Two of the best and brightest are seniors, Danyna Gibson and Tanaya Lewis. And when they compete for more than just grades, the results turn deadly."

Straight A Killer airs on Investigation Discovery on April 21, 2024 at 9 pm EST.

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Stabbed by a kitchen steak knife, and 4 other details about Danyna Gibson's murder

1) Danyna Gibson was stabbed with a kitchen steak knife

Danyna Gibson was a gifted student at Fitzgerald High School in Warren, Michigan, where Lewis was also a straight-A student. Around 8:30 pm on September 12, 2018, Danyna was attacked in her Economics class by her classmate, Tanaya, per an ABC News report.

Tanaya Lewis had managed to enter the school premises undetected with a kitchen steak knife which she had used to stab Danyna four times.

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2) Tanaya Lewis chased Gibson as she smiled and laughed

The Detroit News reported that Tanaya Lewis had been smiling and laughing while she chased Danyna Gibson with the steak knife, threatening to kill her. There were 20 to 30 more students present along with the teacher in the classroom, per ABC News.

The teacher had tried to remove Lewis from the classroom when she reportedly yelled:

"I'm going to kill her."

Tanaya had pulled out her knife and attacked Danyna twice after which she chased her down the classroom. Gibson fell during the chase following which Lewis stabbed her twice in the back.

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3) Gibson and Lewis were straight-A students

The report by ABC News described the 16-year-old Danyna Gibson as a stellar student who was an athlete with the school cross-country team and march band. Gibson was part of the school student council, and robotics club, and worked with Detroit's A Generation of Promise.

Tanaya Lewis, on the other hand, was a 17-year-old straight-A student who was a member of the National Honors Society along with Gibson.

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4) The motive behind the murder was a love triangle

According to Fox 5 DC, the reported motive behind the murder was a common male friend. The apparent love triangle served as the reason behind the stabbing as Lewis accused Gibson of interfering in the relationship.

Lewis and Gibson were friends before and there had reportedly been no altercation leading up to the attack.

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5) Tanaya Lewis was tried as an adult and sentenced to life

According to the Detroit Free Press, Tanaya Lewis was tried as an adult per Michigan's homicide laws. She was charged with first-degree premeditated murder and sentenced to 27 to 60 years in prison as she pleaded no contest.

As part of her plea deal, she will be eligible for parole in the future. However, she is incarcerated at the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility with 735 days to her credit.

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The fifth episode of its second season airs on April 22, 2024, at 9 pm EST on Investigation Discovery.