Man charged in accidental shooting death of 7-year-old in Kannapolis, police say

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — A man has been charged in connection with the accidental shooting death of a seven-year-old girl, according to the Kannapolis Police Department.

One neighbor told Channel 9′s Eli Brand she heard the shot Thursday morning and gave the little girl CPR.

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Lacree Johnson said just before 7 a.m., she heard a thump followed by a loud boom, then someone screaming.

When she went outside with her kids, Johnson said she saw a woman holding a child to her chest.

Johnson said she called 911 and did CPR on the girl while waiting for emergency medical services to arrive. She said her kids had to witness as she did chest compressions.

Johnson said the entire situation is heartbreaking, especially so early, with other kids out getting ready for school.

“It’s sad because my son’s dad just passed by the same thing – a gunshot. So for him, this is more trauma on him that I’m going to have to worry about,” Johnson said. “It’s sad because I wouldn’t know how to take that. I have four and they all get on my nerves but no, you’re supposed to protect these kids.”

Other neighbors said police swarmed the complex soon after shots were fired.

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Officers with the Kannapolis Police Department said it was the girl’s sibling who shot her.

The shooting was determined to be accidental. The victim died at the scene.

Police confirmed that 33-year-old Timothy Wayne Burris has been arrested and charged in connection with this incident.

Burris is the victim’s mother’s boyfriend. Police said he left the firearm used in this incident unsecured, allowing for it to be picked up and accidentally fired.

He has been charged with one count of felony child abuse inflicting serious injury, storing a firearm in a manner accessible to a minor, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, according to police.

Police said Burris was taken to the Cabarrus County Magistrate’s Office, where he was issued a $25,000 secured bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 24.

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