Charges filed in shooting that injured two 12-year-old girls

New details have been released in the drive-by shooting that injured two 12-year-old girls on January 3 in the area of Harrison and California avenues in South Bend.

According to the probable cause affidavit, four girls, ages 12-14 were at a home on Harrison Avenue when a young man told them he had a car and asked if they wanted to go for a ride.

The four girls and the young man got into a gray Nissan.

As they were driving, an SUV started following them at a high rate of speed. The driver then allegedly told the girls in the car, "Oh snap this car is stolen."

The SUV continued following them and a man, later identified as James Carter III, hung out of the passenger side of the SUV with an AK47 and began firing at the Nissan, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Two of the girls were struck by gunfire.

The Nissan then crashed into a parked vehicle.

The three girls in the back seat of the car fled from the vehicle.

The front seat passenger was stuck in the vehicle when the man with the gun approached her and said, "Get the [expletive deleted] out of the car" and "you stole my sister's car," according to the probable cause affidavit.

A woman, later identified as Jacquise Carter, then pulled the front seat passenger out of the vehicle and began to beat her, according to the probable cause affidavit.

A resident who heard the crash, came outside and told police James Carter pointed his gun at him and told him to get back inside, reports said.

A police officer heard the shooting and responded to the scene. The girls returned to the scene and explained to police what happened.

Two of the girls in the back seat were shot in the back and were taken to Memorial Hospital.

Police located the SUV on Broadway. The resident who came outside after hearing the crash identified it as the one chasing the Nissan, reports said.

According to police, the Nissan was reported stolen by Zykayia Carter, James and Jacquise's sister.

James eventually admitted to police he had been at the scene where the Nissan crashed but denied firing shots.

Jacquise admitted she was driving a maroon SUV and was chasing the stolen Nissan, reports said.

On Saturday, James Carter III was charged with two counts of aggravated battery and one count of pointing a firearm. His bond was set at $150,000.

Jacquise was charged on Saturday with battery to a person and assisting a criminal. Her bond was set at $50,000.