12-Year-Old Girl and Teen Boy Charged in Fatal Shooting of High School Football Player Xyere Brooks

Authorities have charged a 12-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy in connection with the tragic shooting death of 16-year-old Xyere Brooks, a standout football player and sophomore at KIPP High School in Camden, New Jersey.

The fatal incident occurred on June 6 at a residence on Thorn Street in Camden. Officers from the Camden County Police Department responded to a call around 12:35 p.m. regarding a person shot. When they arrived, they found Brooks suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to Cooper University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:15 p.m.

According to the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, the shooting took place inside the home, where several juveniles were present at the time. Investigators later determined that a 16-year-old boy had brought a firearm into the residence. The weapon was then handled by a 12-year-old girl from Wilmington, Delaware, who “recklessly discharged the weapon,” fatally striking Brooks.

Family members told the news they believe the shooting was a senseless and tragic accident, the result of teenagers playing with a gun that should have never been in their possession.

On Tuesday, both the 12-year-old girl and the 16-year-old boy turned themselves in to the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office. The girl has been charged with second-degree manslaughter and second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon. The teen boy faces a charge of second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon.

The loss of Xyere Brooks has left the Camden community grieving, especially at KIPP High School, where he was known for his athletic talent and bright future.