A St. Louis grand jury has decided not to indict the father of 7-month-old Kiyomi Parker on a second-degree felony murder charge, according to newly filed court records. Prosecutors have now moved to formally dismiss that murder count, while keeping several child-endangerment charges in place.
Court documents reviewed by First Alert 4 show that 19-year-old Ca’Marion Pawnell was originally charged with one count of second-degree felony murder and multiple counts of endangering the welfare of a child. After the grand jury declined to return an indictment on the murder charge, prosecutors moved to drop that count. Pawnell still faces one charge of endangering the welfare of a child resulting in death and two additional counts alleging he created a substantial risk to a child.
What Happened on June 26
Police say the shooting unfolded just after 4 p.m. on June 26 inside a home in the Baden neighborhood, on the 8400 block of North Broadway. Officers responded to find 7-month-old Kiyomi Parker with a gunshot wound and rushed her to a hospital, where she later died. A 10-year-old and a 7-year-old were reportedly inside the home at the time. The 10-year-old has since been charged in juvenile court with first-degree murder, a move that drew intense attention because of the child’s age, as reported by Metro East Star.
Investigators' Account
Court records and witness statements obtained by reporters describe a harrowing chain of events. Witnesses said the 10-year-old picked up a handgun and fired it, and that the child had handled the gun before. Documents indicate the firearm belonged to Pawnell and had been stored under a mattress in a bedroom, where it was accessible to children, according to reporting by The Independent.
Legal Implications
Under Missouri law, a child as young as the 10-year-old in this case cannot be certified to stand trial as an adult. Juveniles can only be transferred to adult court after age 12. The Missouri Revised Statutes, section 211.071, spell out how courts may transfer and certify juveniles between the ages of 12 and 18, procedures that do not apply to a 10-year-old, according to RSMo §211.071. That means the case stays in the juvenile system and will be handled in family court unless the law itself changes.
Community Response
As the criminal cases move forward, community leaders are trying to channel the city’s grief into prevention. The Urban League of St. Louis has launched an emergency effort to distribute hundreds of free gun locks through roughly 40 neighborhood churches, with Kiyomi’s family taking part in the push. “It’s indescribable the trauma that St. Louis is feeling now, each and every day,” James Clark of the Urban League said, as reported by First Alert 4.
Both Pawnell and the 10-year-old charged in juvenile court remain presumed innocent as their cases move through the legal system. Prosecutors say they will continue pursuing the remaining charges against Pawnell, while juvenile court proceedings determine what happens next for the child.
