A Stone Mountain man was charged with murder Thursday in the shooting death of his 2-year-old nephew.
Detray Shivers, 25, and his wife, 23-year-old Alexia Thomas, were already in the DeKalb County Jail on charges of cruelty to children in the second degree — which calls for "criminal neglect" but not intent — misdemeanor reckless conduct and felony possession of cocaine with intent to distribute when the murder charge was brought against Shivers. Shivers also is charged with tampering with evidence after police found the pistol in a storm drainage area.
The aunt told police that she was asleep when she was supposed to be watching Kamarri Lewis while his mother was at work Monday morning. Shivers told investigators he was away from the house on Third Street at the time of the shooting, which occurred shortly after 10 a.m. that day.
Police investigated the possibility that the toddler had shot himself, but Capt. Stephen Fore said the autopsy showed otherwise. The medical examiner ruled the boy’s death a homicide.
Shivers remains in the DeKalb County Jail, while Thomas has been released on $45,000 bond.
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