COVINGTON, Kentucky – Four juveniles have been taken into custody in connection with a shooting in Covington that resulted in the death of a 14-year-old and left another teenager hospitalized. The most recent arrests were made following the initial arrest of a 17-year-old in connection with the same incident. The suspects are all facing charges of complicity to murder after police executed pickup orders at various locations in Covington and Newport.
The shooting took place on Jan. 23, when officers responded to a call and found two 14-year-olds shot on the street in the Latonia neighborhood. One of the teenagers, Amani Smith, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital, while the other remained in stable condition. Both victims were students at Covington Independent Public Schools.
Amber Smith, Amani’s mother, believes the shooting was a result of an earlier altercation involving her older son and the shooter at school. She claims to have made efforts to alert school officials about threats directed towards her older son, to no avail.
Authorities have not released the identities of the suspects due to their status as juveniles. However, Kenton County Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Sander has indicated the possibility of the teen gunman being charged as an adult. The incident has raised concerns over school safety and the handling of potential threats.
With the recent surge in teen shootings in Cincinnati, where 45 teens have been shot this year, 2023 is shaping up to be one of the most violent years on record for teen-related gun violence. The tragic outcome of the Covington shooting adds to this alarming trend and highlights the urgent need for measures to address youth violence and improve school safety protocols.