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Jacksonville girl, 12, shot in head over dare, court records say

12-year-old boy charged with manslaughter in girl's death

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ€“ Court documents suggest a 12-year-old Jacksonville girl shot in the head during an April slumber party might have diedย over a dare.

Ra'Myaย Eunice and friends were kidding around inside a home in the city's Lackawanna neighborhood when one of them fired a shotgun and hit Ra'Mya, witnesses said.

Those details surfacedย in the arrest warrant affidavit for theย 12-year-old boy charged with manslaughterย in the girl's death. Police arrested him at home Oct. 20.

But while the affidavit cleared upย what led up to the shooting, it also raised more questions for grieving loved ones of the girl whose life was cut short.

Terri Eunice, the victim's grandmother, wants to know where the shooter got the gun, why the children weren'tย supervised and why the adults involved are not charged.

"I was devastated because why would a 12-year-old have a shotgun in their possession?" sheย wonderedย during a Monday interview with News4JAX.

Officers answering a call of someone shot at a home on Willow Branch Avenue off McDuff Avenue about 1:45 a.m. April 30 found Ra'Mya shot inย the head. She was taken to UF Health Jacksonville, where she died May 25 after she was removed from life support.

According to the affidavit, the children were joking around in the living room when the boy went outside and fetched a shotgun hidden beneath the home.ย When the boyย returned, witnesses said, heย took turns pointing the weapon at everyone in the room.

At one point, the boy challenged those in the room while the gun was leveled at Ra'Mya, saying, "Say I won't," according to the affidavit. When a guest replied, "You won't," witnesses said the boy squeezed the trigger, shooting Ra'Mya.

Eunice believes there are others who need to be held accountable, noting that the parents should have kept a better eye on things.

"If you have a sleepover with several kids, why isn't there adult supervision in the home," she said.

Eunice said the family was looking forward to celebrating her granddaughter's birthday. She was set to turn 13 years old on Dec. 3.

"I miss my baby and I wish she was still here."