Attorneys for both sides agreed that the shooting was accidental, with police noting that a group of four teenagers was passing a gun around when it went off.
Police have since charged the 16-year-old with second-degree manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, per CBS. The teenager attended court on Wednesday.
“He’s a kid who’s never been in trouble before, who’s gonna have to live with the fact that … one of his close friends and teammates is never coming back,” defense attorney Kenneth Montgomery was quoted as saying.
Julani said her brother was her best friend and was looking forward to his 17th birthday. She voiced regret over not being there to protect him when he needed it the most.
“It was me and him. Now it’s me,” she said. “A lot of siblings don’t get that. A lot of older siblings don’t get their little siblings coming to them like, jeez, this happened, jeez, I just did this. I’m gonna miss that.”
“He was excited to be 17. Excited to become this grown man. Excited,” she added. “And y’all took that. Y’all took that, and I’m mad I wasn’t there. I’m mad. And I’m sorry, Ka’mardre.
Ka’mardre Coleman was 16 years old. He was a football star. He was about to turn 17. A group of friends passing a gun around for fun ended his life.
Now a teammate faces charges. A family is shattered. And a community is left asking the same question: why did a 16-year-old have a gun in the first place?