In Sacramento, California, a 10-year-old boy was charged with the shooting death of another child of the same age, using a gun he found in his father’s car.
The suspect’s father, Arkete Davis, 53, faces several felony charges, including gun charges and child endangerment.
Around 4:30 p.m. on December 30, 2023, Sacramento County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a call at an apartment complex in the Foothill Farms neighborhood.
There, they found a juvenile victim, unresponsive and bleeding from head and neck injuries. The young boy had been shot while riding his bicycle.
Despite CPR attempts by deputies and subsequent efforts by the Sacramento Metro Fire Department, the boy, later identified as Keith “KJ” Frierson, was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Witnesses led deputies to a nearby apartment where Davis and two juveniles were detained.
Investigations revealed that Davis’ son had taken the gun from his father’s vehicle while retrieving cigarettes for him. The sheriff’s department reported that the boy had boasted about his father owning a gun before shooting Frierson.
The investigation led to the discovery of the firearm in a nearby trash can. This gun was reportedly stolen in 2017. Davis, due to past felony convictions for theft, fraud, and drug charges, was legally barred from possessing firearms.
Family members and loved ones of Frierson created a makeshift memorial at the scene. His aunt, Erika, remembering him as a smart, kind, and respectful child, expressed her grief over the sudden loss.
The 10-year-old alleged shooter has been charged with murder and is currently held at the Sacramento County Youth Detention Facility. If convicted, he could remain in detention until age 25.
Arkete Davis faces charges including possession of a stolen loaded firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon, criminal storage of a firearm, accessory after the fact, and endangering a child. He is held on $500,000 bail and was scheduled for a court appearance on January 3, 2024.