A 19-year-old St. Louis man has been arrested and charged with murder after his 7-month-old daughter was fatally shot by a 10-year-old child — with a gun investigators say he left unsecured under a mattress inside the home.
Ca’Marion Pawnell faces one count of second-degree felony murder, one count of endangering the welfare of a child resulting in death, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child creating substantial risk, according to court records. He is currently being held without bond.
The shooting occurred on June 26 in the Baden neighborhood of St. Louis. Officers responded to find 7-month-old Kiyomi Parker critically injured. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Witnesses at the scene told police that a 10-year-old had picked up a firearm and shot the infant. A 7-year-old child was also inside the home at the time of the shooting.
As investigators spoke with witnesses — including the 10-year-old — a disturbing picture began to emerge. Court documents state the child knew exactly where the gun was, said it had been accessible to him for an extended period of time, and admitted he had taken it out and handled it on prior occasions.
When police questioned Pawnell, he reportedly confirmed the weapon was his and that he had placed it beneath the mattress — exactly where the 10-year-old said it would be.
The 10-year-old who allegedly fired the shot has been charged with first-degree murder in juvenile court.
Kiyomi Parker was only seven months old.
