13-year-old dies week after caught in crossfire outside Baltimore liquor store, documents show
BALTIMORE -- A 13-year-old girl, who was shot in the head, was caught in the crossfire of a shootout outside of a liquor store in Southeast Baltimore on Nov. 7, according to charging documents.
Police arrested 35-year-old Tavon Battle and charged him in the death of Kelsey Washington.
Battle has been charged with first and second degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder and assault and handgun charges.
Officers say the shooting happened around 5 p.m. on November 7 at the corner of E. Fayette and Caroline streets.
Officials believe the suspect was shooting at someone else, but Washington, who was on the lot, was struck.
She was taken to the hospital where she was pronounced dead on November 14. According to Baltimore Police, she was declared brain dead two days prior.
An online fundraiser said Washington, an avid dancer, was in the area raising money for her school and her dance troupe.
"She just happened to be standing where the person was shooting and got shot. I pray for her family who has to deal with it," a woman who lives in the area told WJZ.
Documents revealed a man riding a black and white mountain bike open fired inside a silver Acura TL, then the passenger of the car opened the door and appeared to shoot back.
That's when Washington was struck by a bullet.
Documents say a rear passenger jumped out of the car and ran away, while the passenger got into the driver's seat and sped off, while the man on the bike ran away.
Police found 10 .9mm casings were found at the scene.
According to documents, officers responded to a walk-in shooting victim from the scene. The passenger of the Acura was treated for his injuries and then taken to be interviewed by police.
Witnesses identified Tavon Battle as the person responsible for shooting Washington.
Police say Battle was arrested by the Warrant Apprehension Task Force in Harford County, Maryland, on Tuesday morning.
The Baltimore Police Department shared video footage of Battle handcuffed and being escorted to a transport wagon by one of the homicide detectives.
Surveillance video obtained by WJZ shows the moment of chaos. A group of bystanders run away for cover as bullets began to fly.
"This perpetrator fired into that vehicle probably intending to shoot who was in the vehicle but shot a young person who was standing outside, minding her own business," Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said following the shooting. "And now, we have a person who was critically injured at the hospital."
Tributes to Washington flooded social media accounts.
An online fundraiser said the beloved teen "danced to the beat of her own drum..." and she was "beautiful" and "respectful". The fundraiser also said - her organs will be donated.
"It broke my heart, it really broke my heart because I didn't think that this would take her life away," a friend told WJZ. "She's only 13. She didn't even get to go to high school."
