An 11-year-old boy accused of shooting and killing a seven-month-old baby girl has been ordered to be held in a state mental hospital. The boy, whose name has been withheld due to his age, is alleged to have shot the infant, Kiyomi Pawnell-Parker, in the head on Saturday afternoon inside a St. Louis, Missouri residence.
Officers transported Kiyomi to a local hospital, but medical professionals were unable to save her life. According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, attorneys representing the city's juvenile division requested the boy's placement in the facility, describing it as 'protective custody.' They argued that evidence suggested the boy might have been living in an abusive and neglected environment, which could have contributed to his access to a firearm.
Jim Michaels, chief trial lawyer for the Juvenile Division, stated after a closed hearing that the decision was made in 'the best interest of the child.' He also confirmed that other children residing at the same address have been placed into protective custody. Judge Michael Stelzer approved the commitment after finding probable cause for the murder accusation and the allegations of an abusive home.
The boy is scheduled to undergo mental health treatment at the unnamed facility. He was initially taken for a psychiatric evaluation following the incident.
Kiyomi's 19-year-old father, Ca'Marion Pawnell, has also been arrested and faces multiple charges, including second-degree murder, first-degree child endangerment resulting in death, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child by creating a substantial risk.
Police records indicate that Pawnell admitted to owning the firearm and storing it under a mattress in a bedroom at the home. The charging document states that the 11-year-old boy knew the gun's location and had previously taken it out to play with it. He also reportedly confessed to shooting Kiyomi in the head. A seven-year-old child was present in the home at the time of the shooting.
Authorities have not disclosed the relationship between Pawnell and the two children, including the seven-year-old who was present during the incident. Pawnell is currently being held without bond.
Kiyomi's mother, Janyla Parker, has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral and related expenses. She expressed her grief, writing, 'At just 19 years old, I never imagined I would be planning my seven-month-old daughter’s funeral instead of watching her grow.' Parker described her daughter's death as a 'senseless act of gun violence' and an 'unimaginable loss.'
Pawnell, who graduated from East St. Louis High School in Illinois and was preparing to attend college, is also reportedly devastated by the tragedy, according to his sister.
The St. Louis Police Department's homicide and child abuse investigators are continuing to look into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.