Three men charged with 7-year-old’s murder

MEMPHIS, Tenn. –Three gang members were charged with first degree murder Wednesday in the death of 7-year-old Kirsten Williams. Williams was playing outside with her friends when she was shot in the head over the weekend. Carl Johnson, 19, Jordan Clayton, 21, and Branden Brookins, 19, were charged with first-degree murder. Investigators said the little girl was playing outside her home on Durby Friday when the men drove up and fired round after round from their vehicle. Children told WREG after the bullets finished flying, they found their friend lying in the driveway shot in the head. “We do know someone at that house was the intended target, but we have not been able to determine if Kirsten Williams was the target,” said Director Toney Armstrong. Police said the men were retaliating from a shooting that happened the night before. At a news conference on Wednesday, police said they responded to Regional Medical Center where a man had been taken for a gun shot would. The 22-year-old victim was shot on Durby and refused to cooperate with police. The next day, Williams was shot and killed. Both Clayton and Brookins have a criminal records. Clayton has faced aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, aggravated assault and domestic assault charges. Brookins has faced misdemeanor charges, but they were dismissed. All three men are members of local gangs. Armstrong said homicide investigators worked relentlessly around the clock to catch the pair and  to find justice for the family. “Those of us who have kids, it gives you a moment of pause. It gives you a  moment to appreciate your kids. It gives you a moment to sit back and be thankful that they are still here,” said Armstrong. Armstrong  told the family about the arrests Wednesday afternoon. He said they were holding up, but definitely needed the public’s prayers.