“Green Out” in Plano for Bullied Teen

Family and friends of a 17-year-old Plano girl who has received harassing text messages showed support for the teen by wearing bright green T-shirts to Friday night's football game.

A juvenile was arrested on suspicion of harassment earlier this week in connection with the text messages sent to Shea Shawhan over the last eight months. Her mother, Keri Riddell, has told NBC 5 the suspect is a female student who was close with Shawhan.

A group wearing green T-shirts that say "I'm with Shea" filled a whole section at Friday night's Plano West football game.

"I am just glad I was able to share Shea with the world," Riddell said.

Shawhan was all smiles on the field as she cheered with a group of students with special needs.

She was born with a brain injury and has a seizure disorder because of the injury.

Riddell said her daughter has been bombarded with text messages from fake numbers that were often threatening and vicious. She started making the T-shirts and created an "I'm with Shea" Facebook page to support her daughter. She also starting a nonprofit, I'm with Shea Inc., to raise awareness of bullying.

The minor arrested in connection with the messages has been charged with harassment.

Riddell said her family was doing much better since the texts finally stopped.

"This is finally over," she said. "It's over. I can’t believe it. I can't wrap my brain around that it is over. But, more importantly, it has turned into a beautiful thing."

Contact Us