SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The father of a 10-year-old boy who fatally shot another boy will be the only person charged in connection to the death, Sacramento County prosecutors announced Wednesday.
According to the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, 53-year-old Arkete Davis, the father of the boy who fired the gun, is deemed solely responsible for the child’s death based on the facts known at the moment.
Davis made his first appearance in court on Wednesday following the Saturday shooting, which occurred in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the Foothill Farms area. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office arrested Davis and his son after the shooting. Investigators believe the son obtained a gun from Davis’ vehicle, which was reported stolen in 2017, and that Davis tried to discard the gun by throwing it in a nearby trash can.
Deputy District Attorney Paris Coleman stated in court that evidence and witnesses suggested that Davis’ child had been overheard boasting about his father having a gun. Despite not facing a murder charge, Davis is facing several firearm-related charges, child endangerment, and being an accessory after the fact. He is also accused of destroying evidence by putting the gun in a paper bag and disposing of it in a trash can with ammunition.
Following the incident, Davis was held without bail due to the danger he posed to the community by discarding a gun that still had ammunition. Frierson’s family expressed their demand for justice, with Frierson’s mother, grandmother, and aunt present in court to advocate for both father and son to be held accountable.
Keith Frierson, the 10-year-old victim, was described by loved ones as a kind and sports-loving child who played football for the Jr. Foothill Mustangs. His coaches paid tribute to him at a vigil, referring to him as a “gentle giant.”
In light of the tragic incident, the community mourns the loss of young Keith and seeks to ensure that justice is served for the young victim.