20-year-old woman charged in shooting death of teenage girl in Wilkins Township
A 20-year-old woman has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with Monday's deadly shooting that happened inside a Wilkins Township apartment building.
Rayohna Hexstall, 20, is facing one count of involuntary manslaughter and one count of reckless endangerment in connection with the early-morning shooting at the Brentmoor at Penn Center apartments, police said late Monday night.
Ni'Dreyah Marshall, 17, died after being shot in the head in the apartment, according to court paperwork filed by the Allegheny County Police Department.
The criminal complaint filed by police details that witnesses told investigators that Hexstall, Marshall, and two other men were in the apartment together when Hexstall began waving around a handgun that legally belonged to one of the other people in the room.
According to police, witnesses said that while Hexstall was handling the gun, it went off, shooting and killing Marshall.
During an interview with detectives, Hexstall claimed one of the other individuals in the room was handling the gun when it went off. Other witnesses disputed this fact, telling investigators that Hexstall was indeed holding the gun when it went off.
"It's very scary and sad," said Helen Hayhurst, who lives in the building. "There's a young person that lost their life."
According to investigators, Hexstall, Marshall and the two men were drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana. Hexstall's daughter was asleep when the gun went off, but wasn't in the room, authorities said.
The victim's mother, who was out of town at the time of the shooting, rents the apartment, according to the criminal complaint.
According to online court records, Hexstall was arraigned on Tuesday morning. She is due back in court next month.
Victim went to Woodland Hills High School
Marshall was a student at Woodland Hills High School, district administration said on Tuesday in a Facebook post.
"Our hearts grieve with the student's family and friends as they process this unfathomable loss. Please keep them in your thoughts," the post said.
The district said additional resources are available to students this week.
"If your child is struggling to process this devastating news, please do not hesitate to reach out to a school counselor, social worker, building principal, or administrator," the Facebook post said.