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Charges filed in death of Lee County child killed by shotgun
Posted: 07.18.2012 at 1:01 PM
Updated: 07.19.2012 at 1:55 AM
FOX 31 News Team

The FOX 31 News Team covers Southwest Georgia 24/7

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Thomas faces three felonies including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, involuntary manslaughter, tampering with evidence, and reckless conduct.  / Lee County Sheriff's Office
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LEE COUNTY, GA --
Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents have arrested and charged two people in the shooting death of 10-year-old Rickie Jenkins.

Special agent in charge Danny Jackson says that the Georgia Bureau of Investigations arrested 57-year-old Ronald Thomas and 58-year-old Virginia Carter on multiple charges Wednesday afternoon.

Agents say Thomas and Carter both live at the residence on Railroad Street in Smithville where the shooting took place Monday evening. Thomas faces three felonies including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence. Thomas will also be charged with reckless conduct, according to the GBI. Carter faces the same charges except the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Jackson says all of the charges stem from the shotgun found in the home after the boy was shot and he warns residents that they are responsible for any firearm in their home. The tampering of evidence charge comes from the investigators claim that both Thomas and Carter moved the gun outside the home in order to hide it after the shooting. Agents say neither Carter nor Thomas are related to Jenkins, he was simply at their home playing at the time of the incident.

Agents say around 6 p.m. Monday evening a group of small boys were playing at a residence on Railroad Street in Smithville. Special agent in charge, Danny Jackson says that the boys went into a bedroom in the home and started playing with two guns, one shotgun and a BB gun. While in the bedroom, Jackson says a seven year-old boy discharged the shotgun striking 10-year-old Rickie Jenkins in the thigh. EMS transported Jenkins to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

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