Santiago toddler case--two arrests and a gun today

[marions ghost]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/26/karimah-elkins-katrina-antonio-santiago-baby-shooting-georgia_n_2957762.html

Karimah Elkins, Katrina Elkins Arrested In Shooting Of Antonio Santiago, Georgia Baby

By RUSS BYNUM 03/26/13 02:33 PM ET EDT AP

SAVANNAH, Ga. -- The mother and aunt of a teenage suspect in the fatal shooting of a baby in his stroller have been arrested on charges that they lied to authorities, police said Tuesday.

After their arrests, both women gave police new information that helped lead investigators to a small saltwater pond where they found a handgun, Glynn County police Chief Matt Doering said. He said the gun was being tested to determine whether it could be matched to the slaying last week of 13-month-old Antonio Santiago.

The new arrests targeted relatives of 17-year-old De'Marquise Elkins, who is jailed on murder charges. The slain child's mother, Sherry West, says she was pushing her baby in his stroller Thursday near their home in Brunswick, 80 miles south of Savannah, when a gunman shot the child in the face and wounded her after she refused to give money to him and a younger accomplice.

Elkins' mother, 36-year-old Karimah Elkins, and his aunt, 33-year-old Katrina Elkins, were booked Tuesday morning at the Glynn County jail on charges of making false statements to police, a misdemeanor. Jail records show both women were released after posting bond.

"We arrested them last night and brought them back to headquarters, where we afforded them the opportunity to make additional statements," Doering said Tuesday. "They did, and that information led us to other witnesses ... (who) led us to an area where the gun was disposed of."

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Looks like the women were protecting the boy---but where did he get the gun? I would not like to see the boy bear the whole penalty for this crime.

Kids killing kids in cold blood...HOW DID THEY GET THE GUN?

[Niceguy1]

1. the person who pulled the trigger

should bear full penalty for his actions... Murder is murder irregardless of where and how the accused obtained his weapon.

[marions ghost]

2. And that's what needs to change

--and especially with cases where a child has used an adult's gun.

Why should a 17 year old street kid (yes diabolical sociopath) take all the responsibility?

He got an unsecured gun somewhere. We don't know where yet. That person needs to share the blame.

You've got to do something to make gun owners responsible, because obviously, many aren't. This wouldn't affect responsible gun owners at all. Responsible gun owners don't allow it.

[Niceguy1]

3. he probably got it on the

street from another person who lives that lifestyle

[marions ghost]

5. it's just as likely that his parent bought it

legally from a gun show from an unregulated dealer. I mean it IS Georgia. At least a 50-50 chance.

Whoever owns or gave the gun to him has to pay. Somebody did.

[Niceguy1]

6. do you know how easy

It is to purchase a gun on the streets in the bad parts of town? There is an underground trade.

[marions ghost]

7. Duh, but so find the answer

how did a 17-year old get the gun? I doubt he bought it. Guns on the street don't all have to be stolen (at least not recently). It's a reseller market. Somebody even got it legally maybe. The person who gave, sold, or allowed access is also responsible.

This is what needs to change. Unless you think it's OK that they're so easy to obtain?

[Niceguy1]

8. not like that.

I do think that the shooter wont rat out on where he got the gun....

[marions ghost]

9. No not right now because the

political will isn't there to go after it. Laws have to change. People have to demand that accomplices be charged in a death like this.
Whoever provided the gun is an accessory to the crime.

It would be a very effective way of stopping some of this senseless violence.

[slackmaster]

13. The 17-year-old got the gun in one of two ways, both of which are illegal...

1. Someone gave or sold it to him, or

2. He stole it.

[marions ghost]

14. And if someone gave or sold it to him

(or he stole it from his mother's house)--what does it matter. The point is to trace the gun as far as as possible. And prosecute in the same way the kid is prosecuted. Whoever provided the gun is an accomplice, right? Or do kids just have a right to pick up guns with no attempt to locate the accomplice (or the negligent owner). Makes no sense.

If you are going to allow all these guns everywhere we have to have some accountability.

[WinniSkipper]

16. "Provided" and "Stolen" are different

Until the folks on the anti side of the isle realize the difference - there will never be agreement on this issue.

If someone GAVE him the gun - you will have agreement. He stole it - you will not.

[marions ghost]

17. Not really looking for your approval

Depending on the circumstances (which breaks it down into finer legal points) stolen guns can also result from negligence and even purposeful providing of easy access. Has to be litigated as to whether the gun was reasonably secured.

[WinniSkipper]

18. I wasn't offering you my approval

My approval on the issue is irrelevant.

I'm saying that you (the royal you, not marions)

Let's face it - like you said - "stolen guns". Pretty simple definition right there. Should there be safe storage laws? Yes.

But the issue is - hard core anti's are looking at every possible way to stick it to gun owners because they don't like guns. Where are you going to draw the line? If a gun is stolen (but not as of yet used in a crime) are you going to prosecute the owner if it wasn't secured? Or is it just when it is used in a crime after it was stolen?

[marions ghost]

19. short answer

Prosecute the owner whenever a gun is unsecured and could be accessed by others, whether a crime has been committed or not. because it's criminal negligence either way.

Don't care about "sticking it to gun owners"--care about public safety & public health.

This country is just a joke as a civilized nation if we don't do something. Gun violence affects everybody. Unless you like the idea of living in a banana republic. I've lived in one...very negative...we're getting there. It's really domestic terrorism. If we don't address this from every angle, we have failed. If Americans keep buying guns out of fear, America has failed.

I'm sure you disagree. No need to reply.

[WinniSkipper]

20. And once again - the authoritarian backbone

of the gun control movement shows up.

Your right, I don't have a need to reply, I want to. What does this sound just like?

"Prosecute the owner whenever a gun is unsecured and could be accessed by others, whether a crime has been committed or not. because it's criminal negligence either way." Do you really, really ever wonder why pro 2A people fight so hard?

[ellisonz]

21. ^^^^

Blocked

[ellisonz]

11. Lifestyle?

[oneshooter]

12. I believe that he is refering to the"gangsta"lifestyle.

[ellisonz]

15. So having a "gangsta" lifestyle makes someone do something like this?

[slackmaster]

4. There is no reason that both the boy and the person who supplied him with a gun cannot both...

...pay a full penalty for the crime.

I think they both should.

[CokeMachine]

10. I agree

The supplier is just as guilty. If the kid stole the gun then it's all on him and his friend. I don't believe Georgia has safe storage laws as we do in CA so prosecuting the owner if stolen won't happen.