PHILADELPHIA: Philadelphia police have charged the mother of a 4-year-old girl who died after being shot with third-degree murder.
Authorities yesterday also accused the mother, 25-year-old Shakeia Holmes, of trying to cover up what happened. Police say it appears the gunshot to the girl's right eye was self-inflicted, though autopsy results are pending.
Holmes is awaiting arraignment. It wasn't immediately known if she's represented by a lawyer.
An arrest warrant has been issued for her boyfriend, Demetrius Williams. He's facing a charge of involuntary manslaughter and related offenses.
Police say the shooting occurred in a second-floor bedroom of a north Philadelphia home at about noon Thursday.
Officers arrived to find the mother on the front steps holding the girl. The child was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead about an hour later.