Cops Out Of Control: A Mother Is Tased After Learning Her Child Was Dead
By Allen Powell II, on 04-13-2009 02:58
Published in : Agenda, Policestate
Views : 16840
The frantic mother of a 6-year-old boy killed in this morning's triple murder in Terrytown was subdued with a Taser gun by Jefferson Parish deputies at the murder scene, a sheriff's spokesman said.
The mother of Four Overstreet grew irate with authorities when she arrived at the Monterey Court apartment where the rampage happened before 4 a.m., Saturday. When she got physical, deputies stunned her to bring the situation under control, Col. John Fortunato said.
The woman's name and condition were not immediately available.
Meanwhile, the Sheriff's Office released the names of two other people killed in the brazen shooting, a teenage mother and her toddler son. An 11-year-old girl who was critically wounded hasn't yet been identified.
The dead mother was 19-year-old Domonique Sterling, Fortunato said. Her 23-month-old son was named Robert Claiborne Jr.
Sterling is said to have been babysitting Four Overstreet and the girl who survived the attack.
The incident happened around 3:43 a.m. in the 900 block of East Monterey Court, Fortunato said.
Authorities believe two unidentified men entered an apartment in the area and "executed" Sterling and baby Robert, he said. Wielding handguns, the men also shot young Four and the 11-year old girl in the home.
Four died at the hospital from a gunshot wound to the head.
Robert was also shot in the head. Sterling was shot in the back, and the 11-year-old suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the body, Fortunato said.
Fortunato said witnesses told authorities that two men dressed in dark clothing kicked in the door and began firing. The teenager was found lying on the floor in the living room, while the two deceased children were found in a rear bedroom. Authorities also located crack cocaine and marijuana in the apartment.
One of the suspects, said to be in his 20s, wore a red bandana over his face, a black baseball cap and a dark hooded sweatshirt.
The neighborhood has been plagued by violence and narcotics activity for years, and recently a string of armed robberies has resulted in some homicides. Fortunato did not speculate on a motive early Saturday.
Neighbors and relatives expressed shock that someone could so casually murder innocent children, particularly a toddler. A woman who would only identify herself as the great aunt of the toddler said that anyone who could kill a baby lacks a soul.
"Whoever did it was lowdown," the woman said. "These children don't know about what's happening. ... They (the shooters) just don't have a soul."
Another woman, who identified herself as the toddler's grandmother, said she was supposed to watch the baby this weekend, but Sterling called Friday and said they planned to leave town for the Easter holiday. The women said Sterling was babysitting the children of a friend.
The toddler's grandmother, who is the mother of the child's father, said she was still struggling to comprehend the child's death.
"I just don't believe they killed my baby," she said. "This is just unreal."
Laurinika Sterling said that her cousin had only been living in the neighborhood for about three months and didn't have any disputes with anyone.
She said her cousin wasn't involved in any illegal activities, and she was such a nice person that nobody could want to kill her. Another neighbor said the couple who lived at the house typically worked at night.
"I know my cousin and she didn't have no problems with nobody," Sterling said. "She was a nice person, she had a nice personality. She didn't bother nobody."
The Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with information to contact the Homicide Division at 504.364.5300 or Crimestoppers at 504.822.1111 or toll free at 877.903.7867. Callers do not have to give their names or testify and can earn up to $2,500 for tips that lead to an indictment.
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