10-Year-Old California Boy Who Fatally Shot Another Boy Will Not Be Charged

By Cindy Von Quednow, CNN

A Tragic Incident

(CNN) — Following a heart-wrenching incident in California, a 10-year-old boy who allegedly shot and killed another boy with a stolen gun discovered in his father’s car will not face charges, according to a statement released by the Sacramento District Attorney’s Office on Thursday.

Legal Consequences for the Father

The boy’s father, Arkete Davis, aged 53, appeared in court on Wednesday and was charged with multiple offenses, including criminal storage of a firearm, two counts of child endangerment, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, as per the DA’s office.

Exclusive Responsibility

The Sacramento District Attorney’s Office explicitly stated, “Based on the facts currently known, the sole criminal liability and responsibility for the child’s death lies exclusively with this Defendant.”

Unlawful Possession and Stolen Firearm

It was revealed that Davis was legally prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm. Additionally, the gun in question had been reported stolen in 2017, as previously reported by CNN.

The Boy’s Release

The 10-year-old boy, who tragically lost his life in the shooting, was identified as Keith Frierson. Meanwhile, Davis’s son was initially held in the Sacramento County Youth Detention Facility. However, his grandmother informed CNN affiliate KCRA that he has since been released and is now with his mother in Sacramento.

A Fatal Shooting

Deputies responded to a shooting incident on a Saturday afternoon and discovered the child bleeding from his head and neck in a parking lot. Despite immediate medical attention, he was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Sadly, this incident adds to the devastating toll of gun violence, with more than 1,600 children and teenagers losing their lives in similar incidents in 2023, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive.

Attempted Disposal of the Weapon

Detectives found a gun in a nearby trash can, believed to have been discarded by Davis. This discovery was made by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office during their investigation.

Legal Proceedings and Representation

Davis is currently held without bail and will appear in court for a bail review on Friday, according to the DA’s office. At present, he has not been assigned legal representation, as confirmed by Sacramento County’s Conflict Criminal Defenders.

CNN’s Paradise Afshar, Chris Boyette, Raja Razek, and Holly Yan contributed to this report.