A 10-year-old boy has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of a 7-month-old baby girl. The shooting occurred Saturday afternoon inside a St. Louis, Missouri, home. The child, identified as Kiyomi Pawnell-Parker, was shot in the head.
Officers responded to the scene and transported Kiyomi to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The 10-year-old boy, whose name has not been released due to his age, was taken into custody.
Police also arrested Kiyomi's 19-year-old father, Ca'Marion Pawnell. He faces charges of second-degree murder, first-degree child endangerment resulting in death, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child by creating substantial risk. According to a probable cause statement, Pawnell told police he owned the firearm and had stored it under a mattress in a bedroom at the residence.
The charging document states that the 10-year-old knew the location of the gun and admitted to having taken it out to play with it previously. He also admitted to shooting Kiyomi. A seven-year-old child was present in the home during the incident, but the relationship between the children and Pawnell has not been disclosed.
Kiyomi's mother, Janyla Parker, has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral and other associated expenses. She described the loss as unimaginable and stated that her daughter was taken too soon due to gun violence.
Pawnell was a graduate of East St. Louis High School in Illinois and was preparing to attend college, according to his sister.
The shooting is currently under investigation by homicide and child abuse investigators.
