Miami

Facebook Video Chat Argument Led to King Carter Shooting: Docs

One of the teens charged in boy's murder has reached a deal with prosecutors

What to Know

  • The killing of King Carter outraged the community and led to rallies and calls for an end to gun violence
  • Tamar Teems, who was 16 at the time of the shooting, pleaded guilty last week as part of a deal with prosecutors

An argument during a Facebook video chat ultimately led to the shooting that claimed the life of a 6-year-old Miami boy more than two years ago, according to a newly released sworn statement from one of the teens charged in the murder.

The statement from 18-year-old Tamar Teems sheds some light on the February 20, 2016 killing of King Carter, whose death outraged the community and led to rallies and calls for an end to gun violence.

Teems, who was 16 at the time of the shooting, pleaded guilty last week to second-degree murder with a deadly weapon and attempted premeditated murder as part of a deal with prosecutors in which he'll likely have to testify against the other two defendants.

As part of the deal, Teems will be sentenced to five years in state prison with a minimum of three years behind bars, followed by two years of community control and eight years of probation.

According to Teems' statement, he and his friends, Leonard Adams and Irwen Pressley, had gone to an apartment complex known as the Colors near Northwest 103rd Street and 12th Avenue following the Facebook argument.

The three teens went looking for a man named Juju and when they found him, Teems and Pressley got out of a car and there was an exchange of gunfire, the statement said. Teems told prosecutors he tried to shoot but his gun wasn't working.

During the gunfire, Carter, who lived at the apartment complex and was going to buy candy at a nearby convenience store, was hit by a stray bullet and killed.

Adams was shot in the neck as he, Teems and Pressley drove away from the scene. Leonard was able to drive himself to the hospital, Teems said.

Teems told prosecutors he didn't know Carter had been shot.

"Did you know when you left the Colors, did you yourself know that the little boy King Carter had been shot?" a prosecutor asked him.

Teems replied no, and said he found out that night on Facebook, according to the statement.

Adams and Pressley have both pleaded not guilty in Carter's killing. Adams' mother, Tameka Thompson, was also arrested and charged after authorities say she tried to get rid of the car her son used during the shootout.

Contact Us