Teen charged in shooting death of 12-year-old inside home on Chicago's South Side
CHICAGO (CBS) — Prosecutors on Tuesday said a 14-year-old boy has been charged with accidentally shooting and killing a 12-year-old girl inside a Calumet Heights home this past weekend.
According to Chicago police, a 14-year-old boy was arrested on Sunday night, less than two hours after Dalilah Batey, 14, was shot and killed inside a home in the 9200 block of South Harper Avenue.
That teen was charged with one felony count of involuntary manslaughter and released on electronic monitoring after a court hearing Tuesday. Due to his age, police have not released his name.
CBS News Chicago spoke with both of Dalilah's parents on the phone Tuesday. They were still in shock over losing their 12-year-old daughter.
Dalilah's mom, Ciara Batey, said she was told that a group of teens were playing with guns in the house. Batey said the 14-year-old boy dropped one of the guns on a bed and it went off, hitting Dalilah in the head.
Dalilah mom said her daughter was known by everyone as "happy, smiley, dancing queen." She shared a recent video showing her dancing with friends in front of a refrigerated beverage case at a store.
Dalilah was a seventh grader at Park Manor Elementary School, 7037 S. Rhodes Ave. Ciara Batey never fathomed that her daughter wouldn't live to see her 13th birthday — which is just two short weeks away.
"My best friend and baby never made it home," Ciara Batey said on the phone.
A preliminary police report said there were several people in the house at the time who heard the gun shot. The boy himself said it went off when he dropped it on the bed.
Two guns were then recovered in the yard of the house.
Police records showed no criminal history for the boy, who was later taken into custody.
The shooting was considered a terrible accident, and on Tuesday, the boy was released today to his parents on electronic monitoring.
Meanwhile, the Calumet Heights house where the shooting took place is also part of the investigation.
According to city building records, it has been listed as vacant since for more than a decade, and its owners have been cited many times in recent years for failing to register as vacant building and for failing to maintain the building in safe condition.
CBS News Chicago reached out to the Department of Buildings for more details on that part of the investigation.
Dalilah's mom said over the phone: "My whole heart is gone. She didn't deserve what happened.... Hold your kids tight."
