Jury convicts man who shot two young girls in January 2016
ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- A man who shot two young girls riding in a vehicle in January 2016 was convicted on multiple counts related to the shooting.
James Carter III was found guilty on July 13 of attempted murder, two counts of battery with a deadly weapon and criminal recklessness. He had previously been found guilty of pointing a firearm in this case.
He also admitted to being a habitual offender.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 10.
Carter could be sentenced to 20-40 years on the attempted murder charge and could be sentenced to up to an additional 20 years for the habitual offender conviction.
James' sister, Jacquise Carter, accepted a plea agreement and was found guilty of assisting a criminal and criminal recklessness for her role in the incident.
Background
On January 3, 2016, 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.
Two of the girls were struck by gunfire.
The Nissan 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 resident who heard the crash, came outside and told police James 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.