Teen sentenced in girl's shooting death

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) - A judge ruled the 14-year-old boy who shot and killed a Chesapeake girl in January will serve time behind bars, but the length of the sentence has not been determined.

Nearly two months after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of Carolyn “Cee Cee” Walker, the boy faced a judge to learn his punishment. While the judge sentenced the boy to juvenile detention, the length of time in which he will spend behind bars will be determined by the department at a later date.

“There has to be a consequence for such a reckless act,” the judge said.

On Jan. 10, Chesapeake officers responded to the Owens Village Apartment Complex for a report of a girl suffering from a gunshot wound. Cee Cee, 12, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The boy, who was 13 at the time of the shooting, claimed he had been playing with the gun and didn’t want to hurt Cee Cee.

The defense argued the suspect had already served eight months in juvenile detention, therefore serving most of the recommended six to 12 month sentence for his level of involuntary manslaughter.

The prosecution recommended the judge's sentence be aligned with a recommendation from probation officers, somewhere near the 10-year maximum for adults charged with involuntary manslaughter. A seven year sentence would mean the teen would be released at age 21.

Police say the teen got the gun from another child who took the weapon from a parent without permission. Cee Cee’s mother, Lisa Walker, said that parent should be charged.

"If your children were to do something wrong, y'all, as adults, would have to be accountable for that matter," said Walker, outside the courthouse. "In this matter here, a major tragic case, an adult should be accountable for this also."

Walker told the court anecdotes about missing Cee Cee in the morning, and even Cee Cee’s 9-year-old brother wrote a letter to the court. Lisa Walker said she exchanged glances with the boy in the courtroom but he did not come up to her and apologize.

"I forgive this young man,” Walker told the court. “I know he didn't mean to do it. But it was senseless. Senseless."

The boy will receive mental health services and pay funeral expenses to Cee Cee’s family as restitution.

WAVY.com spoke to boy’s family, who declined comment.