Slaying Suspect, 11, Faces New Counts
Counts of unlawful imprisonment and assault involving neighborhood bullying incidents have been added to the charges against a sixth-grader suspected of killing a playmate.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Kurt Kumli said Tuesday that five additional charges have been filed against the 11-year-old boy. They bring to 17 the total counts against the youngster, charged Nov. 22 with manslaughter and assault with a deadly weapon in the Aug. 2 shooting death of Carmella Aldama, 11.
The girl died of a single gunshot wound suffered while the suspect allegedly brandished a .22-caliber semiautomatic rifle in the bedroom of his parents’ home.
After talking with other playmates and with parents, investigators had also charged the boy with six counts of exhibiting a weapon in an angry and threatening manner, three counts of battery or use of force or violence against another person and one of assault with a deadly weapon. One of the new counts involves the detainment of another child, and another involves throwing rocks at a car.
The allegations are “as severe as anything we get in Juvenile Court,” Kumli said.
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