19-Year-Old, 13-Year-Old Charged In Girl's Death During Illegal Gun Sale Gone Bad: Sheriff

DOUGLASVILLE, GA — The 13-year-old boy charged with murder in the death of his sister, 14-year-old Kyra Scott, was trying to stop people from robbing him of a ghost gun that he made, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

Yusef McArthur El, 19, and Wilson Scott, 13, are charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Kyra Scott, which happened Saturday. El also faces a robbery charge in connection with the incident.

During a Wednesday news conference, Douglas County Sheriff Tim Pounds said El and another person — who's wanted for questioning — came to a home on Vicki Lane in Douglasville to purchase a ghost gun from the 13-year-old boy.

Wilson was making and selling ghost guns on the streets of Douglas and Carroll counties, as well as throughout Atlanta, Pounds said.

Related: Two Charged In Teen Shooting Death At Douglasville Gas Station

Ghost guns are untraceable guns made from manufactured parts bought online and assembled at home by an unlicensed buyer — rather than purchased from licensed gun dealers — and do not require background checks to be purchased, the New York Times reported. Ghost guns don't have serial numbers, which are legally required by law and are used to track guns from manufacturer to gun dealer to buyer.

Instead of paying for the gun, Pounds said El placed Wilson in a head lock, took the gun and ran away with the other unidentified person. Wilson attempted to shoot the two people accused of stealing the gun, but accidentally shot his sister, the sheriff said. Wilson admitted to shooting her.

"It's so sad ... the mother losing two kids at one time," Pounds said during the news conference. "Thirteen-year-old kid, doesn't weight but about 80 pounds, was able to make a weapon from start to finish. At 13 years old."

The rest of the scene unfolded at a Marathon gas station on Stewart Mill Road. While en route to the hospital, the family stopped at the gas station and pulled Kyra out of the backseat, pleading for help.

Read more: Arrests Pending In Child Death At Douglasville Gas Station

Emergency medical technicians and sheriff's deputies arrived and took Kyra to Wellstar Douglas Hospital, "where she was attended to, but ultimately succumbed to her injuries," the sheriff's office said in a news release Thursday.

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up by Kyra's older sister, Auriel Sam, to help with funeral costs for Kyra.

"Kyra was the kindest little girl you would've ever met. She had the biggest heart and always wanted to be around her family," Sam wrote on the GoFundMe page, which can be found here. "I never thought I would lose my sister to gun violence. This is a very difficult time for our family and we ask for your prayers."

The criminal investigation is still considered active, and investigators are still working to identify the third person involved in the incident. More charges could be pending depending on the results of the investigation, Pounds said.

"Kyra Scott's death is a tragedy of epic proportion. It's an unspeakable loss for her family. This loss is absolutely senseless and many are grappling to understand how all of this could happen," Douglas County District Attorney Dalia Racine said during the news conference. "We in Douglas County are a community that is in need of healing. Our village has failed to protect our youth."

Both El and Wilson Scott were denied bond on Tuesday, and El is being held at the Douglas County jail. Wilson will be charged as an adult, but will be housed in a youth detention center as the case moves through the legal process.

The Scott family had recently moved to Douglas County from Lawrenceville. A candlelight vigil was held in Lawrenceville Wednesday evening. Kyra was a freshman in high school in the Douglas County School System.

"Kyra Scott by all accounts was a beautiful and kind soul. And nothing that is done in this case will bring her back," Racine said. "The cost of losing our children is simply too high of a price to pay, and we must do better. We as a community are going to do better."

Douglas County School System Superintendent Trent North released a statement Tuesday evening about Kyra's death:

"The Douglas County School System is devastated by the recent loss of one of our students. This student was a valued member of our family and will be deeply missed," he said. "This loss has shocked and saddened our learning community. For students, this loss has been unbearable."

"The next few days and weeks will be particularly challenging for our community. But as the Douglas County community has many times before, we will be there for each other. We will comfort and encourage each other. Our school system will stand firm and continue supporting those impacted by the tragedy as we navigate through this difficult time."

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