A 12-year-old has been charged in the fatal shooting of 16-year-old Jaiden Harris, which occurred in northeast Charlotte, according to information provided by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD). The incident happened just before 7 p.m. last Friday on Burnt Umber Drive, as reported by The Charlotte Observer. CMPD released a statement saying that when officers arrived, they found Harris with a gunshot wound and he was pronounced dead by MEDIC at the scene.
The 12-year-old, whose name has not been released due to their age, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter. After an interview at the Law Enforcement Center, the juvenile was released back to their parents, CMPD disclosed. Involuntary manslaughter typically implies an unintentional killing caused by negligence or recklessness. WBTV noted that defense attorney Aaron Lee, who is not connected to the case, said, "It depends on the facts of the case of course, but given the nature of the charge, I can assume it was an accident." Lee further commented that he doesn't foresee the case to be transferred to adult court due to the suspect's young age and the nature of the charge, predicting limited legal consequences for the 12-year-old once the case is resolved.
Details surrounding how the shooting occurred and whether the victim and the suspect had any prior relationship have not been released by the authorities. The neighborhood location, according to WSOCTV, is about half a mile south of Reedy Creek Park in the Amberwood subdivision of single-family homes.
The community and Harris' acquaintances have been coping with the sudden loss. Nicknamed "Tank," Harris was remembered in an online fundraising campaign to help his family. Additionally, the case could potentially see charges against an adult depending on the findings of how the 12-year-old came to possess the gun; Aaron Lee explained to The Charlotte Observer that there is a chance an adult could to face charges if the investigation concludes the firearm was not properly secured.
