Teen who allegedly fired shots at vigil charged
Published 9:33 pm Tuesday, September 30, 2014
The juvenile who allegedly shot a man during the Friday candlelight vigil for an Orrville teen appeared in court Tuesday for a bond hearing.
Kendall Robinson, 17, was arrested and charged Monday with first-degree assault for allegedly shooting Cedrick Butler in the ankle during a ceremony meant to honor car wreck victim Jamira Barley.
Robinson is currently in Dallas County Jail under the $500,000 bond Dallas County District Judge Bob Armstrong issued in the Tuesday bond hearing.
“There is no excuse for shooting at a vigil for somebody that has died,” District Attorney Michael Jackson said. “They should have been there worshipping instead of shooting.”
Barley, 19, died in a car accident Sept. 19 when the Toyota Camry she was riding in hit a deer, left Dallas County Road 29 and struck several trees.
Robinson allegedly appeared at the ceremony for Barley and began firing shots in the air, according to Mike Granthum with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department.
Robinson was then reportedly wrestled to the ground by a group of vigil guests, who attempted to take the gun away from him, according to Granthum.
In the midst of the scuffle, Robinson shot the Butler in the ankle.
Butler’s mother transported him to Vaughn Regional Medical Center, where he was treated for minor injuries, Granthum said.
The Dallas County Sheriff’s Department believes the argument may have stemmed from a previous argument that occurred among a group of males months ago.
Officials do not believe Butler was involved in the argument, but instead an innocent bystander who happened to get shot when the scuffle occurred.
The search for the suspect ended Monday after a family member of Robinson’s informed the department of Robinson’s whereabouts, Granthum said.
He was found at a family’s residence in Orrville.
“They cooperated with us,” Granthum said. “He was ready to turn himself in. He was tired of running.”
Robinson will be tried as an adult, because first-degree assault is a Class B felony and Robinson is older than 15, Jackson said.