Man charged after 11-year-old girl shot while driving home from school in Harvey
Harvey police said girl grazed by bullet on her head
HARVEY, Ill. (WLS) -- A Harvey man has been charged in the shooting of an 11-year-old girl last month.
Graylin Waters will stay behind bars after a judge ruled that he was a danger to the community after an 11-year-old girl was shot in the head.
The family of Willow James starts their journey for justice for her as the man accused of shooting her headed to court.
"We're standing here today because what happened to Willow it should never happen again," family spokesperson Qwandra Drummer said.
Waters was charged with felony aggravated battery with a firearm in connection with the crime.
investigators said he is known to law enforcement and has a criminal record, but is not a convicted felon.
"During an interview water is admitted to driving the vehicle in question in the area of the shooting around the time of the incident," Deputy Harvey Police Chief Derrick Charles said.
Investigators said late last month Waters who lives in Harvey open fire near 158th Street and Paulina Avenue as Willow rode home from school with her father and cousin. That's when detectives said a stray bullet fired by Waters struck the girl in the head.
Authorities would not say who was the intended target of the attack.
"This is an isolated incident and my team is using all the resources and technology's office is provided to our agency," Harvey Police Chief Cameron Biddings said.
Authorities said Waters was arrested the next day in nearby Lansing at his sister's house.
Investigators said they used security camera footage from the crime scene and license plate reader technology to track him down.
When officers searched his car, they said they found a loaded gun inside.
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They believe that weapon was used in the shooting.
"Does not have a valid card or CCL card so he should never had a weapon," Javier Magana with the Harvey Police Department said.
Meanwhile, Willow's relatives said she's undergoing intensive physical therapy and has a long road of recovery ahead of her.
"She should be getting ready for cheerleading practice or track not that what she's doing every day because of the trauma she's endured," Drummer said. "She's better than the first day but still every day is gonna be very hard for her."
Willow's family says they are going to work with Harvey mayor to establish something called willow's law which calls for stricter gun laws and stricter penalties.
