Ohio dad who fired into air, killing girl, gets 6 years

CINCINNATI - Deandre Kelley, a Cincinnati man who pleaded guilty in the accidental shooting death of his 11-year-old daughter was sentenced to six years in prison on Wednesday.

Prosecutors say Kelley, 34, was drunk on Jan. 12 when he fought with his longtime girlfriend and fired two gunshots into the air. One bullet hit their daughter Shanti Lanza, who had been hiding in a second-story bedroom, where she had fled when her parents started arguing.

Kelley pleaded guilty to one count of reckless homicide in an emotional hearing Wednesday in Hamilton County court. In exchange, prosecutors dropped charges of involuntary manslaughter and endangering children, and a weapons count.

By definition, a charge of reckless homicide means the death was accidental.

"His actions were reckless, but his intent was not to kill his daughter," Cincinnati police Sgt. Julian Johnson said. "If it was his intent, he'd be charged with aggravated murder."

Kelley had originally pleaded not guilty to reckless homicide in his daughter's death, but his attorney, Hugh McCloskey Jr., says that after talking the case over with the judge, his client realized that a six-year sentence was the best deal he was going to get.