Many people “feel” safe in their community, but making decisions based upon feelings and emotions instead of cold, hard facts can have horrific consequences.
Brunswick, Georgia (CNN) — Two teen boys in this coastal city were charged with murder Friday, accused in the fatal shooting of a 13-month-old boy who was in a stroller being pushed by his mother.
Aided by a description and a check of school attendance records to determine who was not in classes Thursday, officers searched for the young suspects and took them into custody, police said.
De’Marquise Elkins Credit: Glynn County Detention Center
…Spokesman Todd Rhodes, who described the shooting as “horrific,” told CNN’s “The Situation Room” on Friday evening that search warrants were being executed in three locations.
Chief Tobe Green identified the older suspect as De’Marquise Elkins, 17, and said he will be treated as an adult in criminal proceedings. The 14-year-old was not identified because of his age. Both have been charged with first-degree murder, police said.
…West earlier told reporters that the incident occurred at 9 a.m. Thursday as she was walking home from the post office, pushing her son, Antonio, in a stroller. She said she saw two boys.
The grieving mom, Sherry West Credit: The Brunswick News/Bobby Haven
“A boy approached me and told me he wanted my money, and I told him I didn’t have any money. And he said, ‘Give me your money or I’m going to kill you and I’m going to shoot your baby and kill your baby,’ and I said, ‘I don’t have any money,’ and ‘Don’t kill my baby.'”
The boy tried to grab her purse and opened fire when she said tried to tell him she had no money, West said, with the shot grazing her head. She said the boy then shot her in the leg.
West continued, “And then, all of a sudden, he walked over and he shot my baby in the face.”
West said she tried to perform CPR on her son and that the police took over when they arrived, but to no avail. “We lost him,” she said.
Karimah Elkins (L), and Katrina Elkins both charged with making false statements Credit: Glynn County Police
…Rhodes said crime is not common in the residential neighborhood where West said her child was shot. “It’s a nice area, it’s a clean area, it’s an area where law-abiding citizens not only live, they also work and play.
“Much like every other city in these United States, from time to time we will have a glitch. Unfortunately, this happened here in Brunswick, Georgia.”
The city’s website describes Brunswick, with a population of about 15,000, as “one of the most unique, historic and visually stunning places in the world.” It boasts 19th century Victorian-style homes, century-old oaks and magnolia tree-lined streets.
Most folks would probably describe their neighborhoods and cities just like the above description of the city where this horrific crime occurred.
Remember, the only thing that stops an evil person, especially an armed evil person, is a good guy with a gun.
De’Marquise Elkins, 17, was charged with first-degree murder as well as eight other counts related to the slaying.
A14-year-old, who has not identified because of his age, has also been charged with first-degree murder as well as seven other counts.
The older suspect’s mother, Karimah Elkins, and his sister, Sabrina Elkins, were both charged with evidence tampering, after they reportedly threw the murder weapon into a nearby pond.
Police recovered the revolver a few days later.
His aunt, Katrina Elkins, was also charged with making false statements to police.
The suspects were black?