STATESVILLE, N.C. — Less than two weeks after she was killed, the Statesville Police Department says they were able to arrest five teens in the shooting death of 8-year-old Ah’Miyahh Howell and the wounding of her cousin. However, one additional suspect remains on the run.
The department announced the charges made against the teens during a news briefing Friday. The teens range in age from 17 years old up to 19 years old.
The arrests include:
- 18-year-old Nasir Cor'lee Turner of Mooresville
- 19-year-old Sayqwon Kalil Miller of Statesville
- Three 17-year-old juvenile suspects who could not be identified
One additional suspect, 19-year-old Donnell Tiajian Ellison of Statesville, is still at large and is to be considered armed and dangerous, according to police.
Turner, Miller and one of the 17-year-old suspects were arrested Friday and taken into custody. Statesville Police said they found and arrested two additional 17-year-olds for the murder of Ah’Miyahh Howell overnight on July 10.
The three teens who are of majority age, including Ellison, have been charged with murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, felony conspiracy, and discharging a weapon into occupied property causing serious bodily injury.
A juvenile petition for one of the 17-year-old suspects was also obtained, so that suspect could be charged like the others.
During the news conference on Friday, the department said they were able to find and seize two cars connected to the homicide: a white Honda Accord and a white Mercedes-Benz. Based on the evidence, police initially identified four suspects in the shooting but stressed the investigation was ongoing, declining to answer questions while asking the public to come forward with more information. Police later identified more suspects in the investigation.
The charges come 11 days after the shooting, which unfolded on June 28 as Howell and her 7-year-old cousin Tariq Lowery played in the front yard of a home along Wilson Lee Boulevard.
Gunshots rang out just before 7 p.m. on June 28, hitting both children. Howell died of her injuries at a hospital, but Lowery recovered.
Howell and Lowery weren't the only children shot that night; just down the road on Newbern Avenue, a 10-year-old boy was shot in a similar drive-by incident as officers investigated the first shooting. He was expected to make a full recovery.
Since the shootings unfolded, the Statesville community rallied around the family, holding a cookout fundraiser to help them financially.
WCNC Charlotte is showing the mugshots of the three adult suspects because of the public interest in the case, and because police are working to identify any additional suspects in the case. Additionally, one of the suspects is still on the run and considered armed and dangerous by the Statesville police.
Editor's Note: WCNC Charlotte amended the mugshots appearing in this article after Statesville Police Department made corrections to the mugshots in a press release issued July 10.