10-Year-old Florida Girl Faces Murder Charge for Shooting Woman With Gun in Her Mother's Backpack

Police arrested a 10-year-old Florida girl after she shot a woman during a physical altercation with her mom on Memorial Day. The girl reportedly retrieved the gun from her mother's backpack.

On Tuesday, the Orlando Police Department detained the girl and placed her in custody at the juvenile detention center. She was charged with second-degree murder. Reuters reports that the girl's mother was arrested and charged with several offenses.

A tragic case

According to State Attorney Monique Worrell, the case is one of the most tragic cases that she had seen in her 22-year career, adding that the shooting is an "unimaginable tragedy that defies easy solutions."

The incident came after several cases of mass shootings and a weekend of violence that re-ignited the call for tighter restrictions on gun ownership.

Per the police affidavit, Lashum Rodgers, 41, the victim, was cooking out on May 30 to celebrate Memorial Day with her boyfriend in the rear of her Orlando apartment building.

Lakeisha Isaac, 31, soon arrived with her daughter, and the two women began arguing over a recent dispute. The argument led to a fist fight. According to the victim's boyfriend, he tried to lead Rodgers back into the house, but she broke free to engage with Isaac again. Isaac handed her daughter a bag that contained a gun. The daughter reached into her mother's backpack and pulled out the gun.

According to Rodger's boyfriend, the girl shot Rodger twice, striking her in the head and killing her. While the girl was holding the firearm, the girl yelled, "she shouldn't have hit my momma."

Isaac grabbed the gun and pointed it at the boyfriend's chest as he raised his hands. The mom and the daughter then fled the apartment.

The victim was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where she died.

The New York Post reported that family and friends remember Rodgers as a beloved mother and grandmother known in the neighborhood for her kindness and generosity.

Rodger's cousin said that she was not the type of person who would get into fights, adding that she did not deserve to die in such a violent manner.

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Charges on the mother and daughter

The ten-year-old now faces a second-degree murder charge, which is punishable by up to life in prison.

After the girl's arrest on Tuesday, a statement from Worell said that her office was reviewing the case. They will consider the child's age and the circumstances leading to the shooting when deciding for the girl. She added that whatever charges they file will ensure that the girl receives the interventions necessary to address her behavior, help her change and grow, and safeguard public safety.

Wesh 2 reports that the girl appeared in court on Wednesday, and the judge ruled that she would remain in detention for 21 days pending a decision on formal charges from the State Attorney's Office.

Meanwhile, the mother is currently jailed on counts of manslaughter by culpable negligence, child neglect, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and aggravated assault with a firearm in connection with the deadly shooting.

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