St. Louis: 10-Year-Old Boy Charged After Fatal Shooting of Infant

Authorities in St. Louis, Missouri, have filed a first-degree murder charge against a ten-year-old boy following the tragic death of a seven-month-old baby girl. The incident, which police say occurred on Saturday afternoon, June 20, involved the boy allegedly using a firearm he discovered under a mattress to shoot baby Kiyomi Pawnell-Parker in the head.

Emergency responders swiftly transported Kiyomi to a nearby hospital in a police cruiser, but medical personnel were ultimately unsuccessful in their efforts to save her life. The young boy was subsequently taken into custody and now faces a charge of first-degree murder.

Furthermore, Kiyomi's 19-year-old father, Ca'Marion Pawnell, has also been arrested and faces multiple charges. These include second-degree murder, first-degree child endangerment resulting in death, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child by creating substantial risk.

According to a probable cause statement obtained by KSDK, Pawnell admitted to law enforcement that he owned the gun and had stored it under a mattress in a bedroom at the residence. Charging documents further indicate that the ten-year-old suspect was aware of the gun's location and confessed to police that he had previously removed it to play with. In an affidavit, officers stated that the boy acknowledged responsibility for shooting Kiyomi in the head.

Another seven-year-old child was reportedly present in the home at the time of the deadly shooting. Authorities have not yet disclosed the precise relationship between Pawnell, who remains detained without bond, and the two other children involved in the incident.

Meanwhile, Janyla Parker, Kiyomi's grieving mother, has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral costs and other associated expenditures. Parker expressed her profound sorrow on the platform, stating: "At just 19 years old, I never imagined I would be planning my seven-month-old daughter’s funeral instead of watching her grow. My precious baby, Kiyomi Pawnell-Parker, was taken from me far too soon due to a senseless act of gun violence. No parent should ever have to experience this kind of heartbreak."

She further characterized her daughter's passing as an "unimaginable loss," extending gratitude to donors for "helping me give my beautiful baby the farewell she deserves." According to social media posts from his grieving sister, Pawnell is an alumnus of East St. Louis High School in Illinois and had been making preparations to enroll in college.