In Houston, Texas, 18-year old Nariah Champion was accidentally shot and killed by 17-year old Zakorion Batiste, who was playing with a gun.  The two were among a group of kids hanging out together.  Batiste has been charged with manslaughter and is being held on $50,000 bail.  According to the report, if bond is made, Batiste will be under house arrest, other than to go back forth to High School.

Champion’s parents want justice for their daughter not just from Batiste, but from adults who were present at the time of the shooting.  “She was just 18. A baby,” her father said. “We will never understand what she went through in her last moments. But from my understanding, she was suffering. Because she was choking on her own blood.”

Champion’s mother said, “her daughter was looking forward to prom and high school graduation. She wanted to be a lawyer.”

Also today, a toddler got hold of a gun in a Lafayette, Louisiana hotel room and shot themself to death.  Apparently the toddler’s caregiver had left the room for a moment and heard the shot from outside. The toddler died at the hospital. Police have confirmed that the shooting appeared to be accidental.

Sources:

Roxie Bustamante, Courtney Carpenter, “Judge Sets $50K Bond for Teen Accused of Playing with Gun Before Shooting Woman in South Harris Co.”  ABC13 Eyewitness News (April 25, 2022).

David Mamone, “Toddler Dies after Shooting in a Lafayette Hotel Saturday, LPD Says,” The Acadiana Advocate (April 23, 2022).