A suspect charged with capital murder in the killing of seven-year-old Jazmine Barnes in Houston appeared in court for a hearing Monday, during which it emerged that an earlier fight at a nightclub between a group pf men led to the innocent child's death.
Eric Black Jr, 20, remained silent for the entire duration of the hearing, which was attended by his mother and other family members.
A prosecutor said the drive-by shooting on December 30 that took Barnes' life happened after Black and another man mistook the car she was in for one belonging to individuals they had fought with at a club hours earlier.
Black allegedly told investigators he and his alleged accomplice did not realize it was the wrong car and did not know they had shot dead a child until they saw a report about it on the news the next day.
Scroll down for video
Eric Black Jr, 20, appeared in court Monday (left) in the shooting death of 7-year-old Jazmine Barnes on December 30 in Houston (right)
Black allegedly admitted he was the driver of the SUV from which shots were fired at Barnes' mother's car
Authorities believe Black, who is charged with capital murder, was driving the SUV from which the shots were fired.
After the hearing, prosecutor Samantha Knecht declined to comment on the other suspect in the case, who is believed to be the shooter.
On Sunday, prosecutors said Black admitted he was driving the dark-colored Kia when a passenger in his vehicle identified only as 'Larry' opened fire on the car carrying Barnes, her mother and three sisters near a Walmart parking lot.
A man named Larry Woodruffe, 24, was taken into custody on drug-related charges. As of Monday afternoon, he has not been formally charged in connection to Barnes' death.
The Barnes family's lawyer, Lee Merritt, released a copy of Woodruffe's mugshot on Sunday and said he is 'believed to be the shooter'.
Rep Sheila Jackson Lee, a Democrat from Houston (pictured on December 7), on Sunday defended labeling Barnes' death a hate crime before all the facts were known.
Both Black and Woodruffe are African-Americans.
Barnes' family, along with civil rights activists and Rep Sheila Jackson Lee, a Democrat from Houston, initially labeled the girl's killing a racially motivated hate crime after Jazmine's sisters had described the shooter as a white man who was seen fleeing in a red pickup.
On Sunday, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the man in the red pickup who was being sought in connection to the shooting was actually just a witness.
Gonzalez explained that the shooting happened very quickly at a stoplight, and that it’s likely that the red pickup truck was the last thing seen by Jazmine’s family before gunfire erupted. He also noted that it was dark out at the time.
Authorities still hope to talk to the person in the red pickup to get his account of what happened.
During a press conference on Sunday, Rep Jackson Lee defended labeling Barnes' death a hate crime before all the facts were known.
'Nothing is irresponsible when it comes to the loss of a precious 7 or 8 year old,' the congresswoman said in response to a KHOU reporter's question. 'As many in the community did, they expressed that it might be [a hate crime], it seems to have the criteria of that.
'Which is why I emphasize that the intensity of the community is no less because the perpetrator has been found to be something other than [white].'
Black (left) has been charged with capital murder after Barnes who was gunned down in a Walmart parking lot in Houston, Texas on December 30. Another man, Larry Woodruffe, 24, (right) was the second suspect to be arrested in connection with the shooting
Jazmine was in the family's car with her mother and three siblings when a gunman started firing at them.
Police initially described the suspect as a bearded white man in his 40s based on the descriptions from various witnesses and victims.
Police had initially described the suspect as a bearded white male in his 40s based on witness descriptions. Following the arrest of two black men, it is now believed the man seen fleeing the scene may have been an innocent, frightened bystander
They released a police sketch showing a white man and Jazmine's mother, LaPorsha Washington, said she believed the shooting was racially motivated.
However, both men taken into custody in connection with the little girl's murder are black.
Black was stopped by police on January 5 for failing to signal before changing lanes and officers subsequently found marijuana in his car.
When he faced court for the signal and drug violations, it was revealed authorities had received an anonymous tip that said people with the initials 'EB' and 'LW' were responsible for the shooting, ABC News reports.
Sheriff Gonzalez revealed on Sunday that civil rights activist Shaun King was the person who phoned in the tip that he had received with names of the alleged shooters.
Black later allegedly told police that he owned a pistol, which is said to have matched the casings found at the murder scene.
Police said early Sunday that Black was arrested without incident after receiving a tip and later admitting to the shooting
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez revealed on Sunday that civil rights activist Shaun King (above) was the person who phoned in the tip that he had received with names of the alleged shooters
Investigators do not think Jazmine or her family were the intended targets of the shooting.
'Investigators are continuing to pursue evidence that could possibly lead to other suspects being charged in this case,' a statement read.
'Jazmine's mother was driving Jazmine and her three sisters southbound on the East Sam Houston Parkway feeder road near Wallisville Road at approximately 6:50 a.m. when they were fired upon by someone in another vehicle.
'At this time, investigators do not believe Jazmine's family was the intended target of the shooting, and that they were possibly shot as a result of mistaken identity.'
'I am grateful to our dedicated investigators, the partner law enforcement agencies that provided vital assistance, and tipsters from across the nation who pulled together to support our work to get justice for Jazmine,' Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said. 'Our work is not finished, but I believe the people of Harris County can take comfort in knowing we have made great progress.'
It comes as hundreds of people gathered at a rally on Saturday holding signs reading 'Justice for Jazmine.'
Organizers of the rally also led the crowd in chants that repeated the phrases, 'What do we want? Justice. Who do we want it for? Jazmine.'
Jazmine's family had said they believe her death was racially motivated.
In an emotional speech, Jazmine's aunt, Sharonica Watt, asked her niece's killer why he took the little girl's life.
'We're asking you to turn yourself in right now, in the name of Jesus. We're asking you to give justice to me and my family,' Watt yelled in between tears.
Jazmine was killed when a man in a red pickup truck pulled up next to the family car and opened fire for no apparent reason
At least one suspect is reportedly in custody in connection with the seven-year-old's murder
Jazmine died at the scene and her mother, LaPorsha Washington, suffered a gunshot wound to the arm.
Jazmine's father, Christopher Cevilla, said his daughter was a loving and caring girl who was 'very smart in school.'
The Sheldon Independent School District said in a statement that Jazmine was a second-grader at Monahan Elementary in Houston.
The district said additional counselors will be at the school when students return on Tuesday. The district asked parents to tell their children about Jazmine's death.
Her funeral is being paid for by retired NBA player Shaquille O'Neal and veteran Houston police officer Kenneth Miles.
Texans star DeAndre Hopkins donated his $29K check from Saturday's game to support her family.
LaPorsha Washington, center, the mother of seven-year-old daughter Jazmine Barnes, speaks to the crowd during a community rally
The rally was held in the parking lot of a Walmart near where the shooting happened
People attend a community rally for seven-year-old Jazmine Barnes on Saturday in Houston
Texans star DeAndre Hopkins, pictured left, has said he will donate his $29K check from Saturday's game to support her family and retired NBA player Shaquille O'Neal, right, has said he will pay for the little girl's funeral
Link hienalouca.com Interesting to note. We are looking for an investor or sponsor for a project to grow dinosaurs and relict plants . The required amount of investment from $ 400,000 to $ 900,000. It will be necessary to build a small laboratory with certain parameters. For all interested parties, email angocman@gmail.com. It will be very interesting.
https://hienalouca.com/2019/01/08/black-suspect-makes-court-appearance-in-capital-murder-of-seven-year-old-jazmine-barnes/
Main photo article A suspect charged with capital murder in the killing of seven-year-old Jazmine Barnes in Houston appeared in court for a hearing Monday, during which it emerged that an earlier fight at a nightclub between a group pf men led to the innocent child’s death.
Eric Black Jr, 20, remained s...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/01/07/20/8240082-6566511-image-m-4_1546894657820.jpg
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий