An 18-year-old man accused in a shootout that left an 8-year-old girl dead in Camden, New Jersey faced a judge and the young victim's family in court on Tuesday.
NBC10's Cydney Long was in court as Tyhan Brown appeared for an arraignment on murder and related charges. Brown is accused of participating in a shootout on the 900 block of South 8th Street in Camden Aug. 24 as little Gabrielle Hill-Carter rode her bike outside her home.
The little girl was caught in the crossfire and died two days after being wounded during the shootout.
Authorities say Brown fled to his uncle's home in Tennessee in the aftermath of the shooting, with help from his mother, Shakia Land, and girlfriend, Natasha Gerald. U.S. Marshals tracked Brown down in Tennessee and arrested him there for extradition back to New Jersey, and prosecutors have charged both Land and Gerald with helping the accused child killer to flee and providing police with false statements about him.
Gabrielle's mother openly wept in court as Assistant Prosecutor Christine Shah read the gut-wrenching details of the case.
The judge set bail for Brown at $1.5 million, agreeing he's a serious flight risk after he fled the state once already. The young man has no adult criminal record, but a lengthy juvenile record, NBC10's Cydney Long reports.
Gabrielle, who went by Gabby, has been mourned by family members and neighbors since her tragic death. Her stepfather said her family was happy with the high bail set by the judge and hopes to see justice served for the little girl, but that Tuesday's court hearing aggravated the open wound left by her death.
"It still hurt like hell watching," Gabby's stepfather told NBC10 outside court. "She was very much loved ... she will be always remembered."
Police have not identified any of the other suspects in the shootout, but additional arrests are expected.