Homicide Charges Filed Against Man Accused In 6-Year-Old's Shooting Death
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Homicide charges have now been filed against a man accused in a shooting that took the life of a 6-year-old girl in Knoxville.
According to police, the shooting happened on Zara Street on July 17. Isis Allen, 6, suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was taken to Children's Hospital.
She was pronounced dead on July 20 after being taken off life support.
Shortly after the shooting, police arrested Kamau Thomas, Jr., 19, of Carrick.
According to court papers, Thomas said he was in the area for a fight between two women. While he was there, he claimed another man made threatening gestures towards him. He claims the man had shot at him about a month ago and believed he had a gun at the fight.
After the fight broke up, Thomas said he returned to the area with the intention to scare off the other man.
Thomas reportedly told police he fired a shot into the air towards the roof of the home and when he brought the gun down the trigger was "sensitive" and the gun "started going crazy, and kept going off until (the magazine) was empty."
The district attorney's office has filed upgraded charges against Thomas, which include criminal homicide, attempted criminal homicide and recklessly endangering another person.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 5.
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