JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The state attorney recently notified the court it intends to seek the death penalty against Rasheem Dubose, one of the three brothers accused of fatally shooting an 8-year-old girl.
Rasheem Dubose and his brother Tajuan Dubose appeared before a judge on Wednesday, and both brothers were arraigned on murder charges in the death of Dreshawna Davis.
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A third brother, Terrell Dubose, has also been indicted on first-degree murder charges but he did not appear in court on Wednesday.
According to police, in July, shots were fired into a home on Third Avenue, and one of the bullets hit and killed Dreshawna as she sat in a room watching a movie.
Thus far, Rasheem Dubose is the only brother facing the death penalty in the case.
Also on Wednesday, the state attorney's office released video of the police interrogation of the Dubose brothers -- shedding some light on what happened the night Dreshawna died.
The video shows Rasheem Dubose denying being involved in the fatal shooting. He first spoke to the detective about an encounter with Willie Davis Jr., Dreshawna's uncle. Police said that was what prompted the shooting.
Rasheem Dubose claimed Davis put a gun to his head and forced him to strip down in the middle of the street before robbing him.
Detective: He made you look bad?
Rasheem Dubose: He did that. Of course, he did that.
Detective: Where you mad?
Rasheem Dubose: Was I mad? Yeah. Who wasn't going to be mad?
Throughout the interrogation, Rasheem Dubose repeatedly denied firing shots into the house where Dreshawna lived, even though the detectives held up the girl's photo over and over, challenging him to be a man and own up to his role in the murder and give the family some peace through truth.
Detective: What's in your head?
Rasheem Dubose: What do you think was in my head? What was in my head ... I didn't do it. I promise you sir, I had no situation to do with that death sir.
Detective: Did anybody set out to kill that little girl that day?
Rasheem Dubose: What? Who would want to kill a child?
After several hours in the interrogation room, Rasheem made a statement to Dreshawna's family.
"My mercy goes out to the family. I know you hurt and you want to know why it happened. I think it was because of Psycho (Davis' street name), because of Psycho and his problems that he's doing in the street. But I'm not a type of person who likes to see a child die for another man. I need for y'all to understand that I have a little girl too who I love dearly, and I wouldn't like to go through the same thing ya'll are going through if it was my mistake," Rasheem Dubose said.
Terrell Dubose also showed remorse for the family during his interrogation.
"I feel bad for her. My heart goes out to her. If I had a choice, I would lose my life to have her back," said Terrell Dubose.
Terrell Dubose's next court date is scheduled for Jan. 24, which is when he is expected to be arraigned.
Previous Stories:
- January 3, 2007: 3 Brothers Indicted In Girl's Shooting Death
- December 8, 2006: Uncle In Court In Case Related To Girl's Death
- July 28, 2006: Grandfather: Girl Took Bullet For Young Cousins
- July 28, 2006: Uncle Questioned About 8-Year-Old's Slaying
- July 28, 2006: City To Flood High-Risk Neighborhoods With Police
- July 27, 2006: 'Another Senseless Murder' Takes Life Of 8-Year-Old
- July 26, 2006: Girl Killed In Drive-By Shooting