NEWS INFORMATION FROM |
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THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED |
FOR IMMEDIATE USE |
BOY’S SHOOTING DEATH RULED ACCIDENTAL; 2ND PERSON CHARGED IN TARA LAYTON MURDERMayor Stephen R. Reed today reported that city police have ruled yesterday’s shooting death of 15-year old Ivory Chambers as accidental, and that a second person has now been charged in connection with the early Sunday morning shooting death of Tara Layton. Reed said yesterday’s shooting death of Chambers was determined to be accidental as a result of witness interviews and additional investigation. Officers were called to 346 S. 14th Street just before 3 p.m. for reports of a person down and shots fired. Arriving units found Chambers slumped over on the 3rd floor of the 2-apartment building, with a single gunshot wound to the head. Witness reports indicate that Chambers was playing around with the .40 cal. handgun when it accidentally discharged, striking him with a single shot to the head and killing him instantly. Two 14-year old male juveniles and 21-year old Carneal J. Parker were in the room at the time with Chambers. The two juveniles then grabbed the weapon and ran outside, hiding it behind a nearby house where they later led police to its recovery. All of the witnesses indicate Chambers was playing recklessly with the gun, pointing it at them as well as himself when it accidentally discharged. The victim’s 14-year old brother had just moments earlier told him to take the clip out. The victim had apparently been playing around with the weapon the night before too, when he and two of the witnesses practiced firing it near the Berryhill St. Boys Club. It remains unknown how Chambers came into possession of the weapon, but it has been determined that the weapon was stolen in the city last month. Parker, of the same address as the deceased at 346 S. 14th Street, was found to be in violation of parole and was subsequently taken into custody on Escape and Parole Violation charges, as well as Driving under a Suspended License. No charges have thus far been filed against any of the other juveniles present in the room, though the incident remains under investigation with the possibility of additional charges being filed. Police do not believe that any of the other witnesses in the room had anything to do with the Chambers’ death. The Mayor said an additional person has now been charged in connection with the early Sunday morning shooting death of Tara Layton. Police said 24-year old Tamara Hosby, of 512 Cumberland Street, has now been charged with single counts each of Simple Assault, Witness Intimidation, Conspiracy to Commit Simple Assault, Conspiracy to Commit Witness Intimidation, Conspiracy to Commit Tampering with Evidence, and Possession of Marijuana. Hosby’s cousin, Robert Hosby, age 27, is already being held in the case on murder charges. Hosby now faces single counts each of Criminal Homicide, Aggravated Assault, Witness Intimidation and Tampering with Evidence, as well as multiple firearms violations and conspiracy charges. Reed said Robert Hosby and his cousin Tamara Hosby went to Layton’s house early Sunday morning to fight with the deceased’s cousin over her alleged provision of information to the police that led to the arrest of Tamara’s brother, and Robert’s cousin, Larry Hosby, for the murder of 14-year old Daeshaun Auter in August. The deceased’s cousin easily won the physical fight with Tamara Hosby, and the victim Tara Layton began verbally arguing with Robert Hosby, who was standing nearby watching the two women fight. Hosby returned to the vehicle he and Tamara had arrived in, retrieved a handgun from it, and returned to the porch where Tara and her cousin were standing. Hosby then shot Tara Layton once in the chest, causing her immediate death. The Hosbys then fled the scene but were taken into custody without incident less than an hour later. |
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