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Grandmother and grandson charged in connection to the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Emarjae Watkins

Posted at 10:02 AM, Dec 14, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-14 17:26:06-05

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged 58-year-old Lise Cox in connection with the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Emarjae Watkins.

Cox is charged with involuntary manslaughter in the teen's death, Child Abuse Second Degree and Felony Firearm

It is alleged that the grandmother kept a handgun on the floor of her bedroom and was aware that her grandsons knew that the gun and ammunition was located under a dresser.

Police say the 13-year-old grandson was home alone with several other teens at a home on Tireman Street in Detroit.  He got into his grandmother's bedroom. He found and loaded the gun and started playing with it. The gun went off and his friend was fatally shot in the back.

The grandmother was at work at the time.

The grandson is being charged as a juvenile with Manslaughter, Death by Weapon Aimed with Intent but without Malice, Felony Firearm and Careless Discharge causing death.

Emarjae Watkins was in the eighth grade at Sampson-Webber Leadership Academy, loved playing chess and electronics.

An arraignment is scheduled for 2:30 a.m. for both the grandmother and grandson.