Youngstown cops still looking for shooter of girl, 9

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Police say the arrest of a man while serving a search warrant Thursday in connection with the shooting of a 9-year-old girl Wednesday did not bring the result they had hoped for.

Police served a search warrant in the case about 4 p.m. Thursday at a Hilton Avenue residence and arrested Devante Scott, 19, on charges of possession of a defaced firearm and unlawful possession of a dangerous ordnance.

Chief Robin Lees said officers serving the warrant found a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun and a sawed-off shotgun that had the serial number obliterated.

Scott was taken to the Mahoning County jail. Arraignment information was not available.

Lees said the weapons taken from the home do not match those used in the shooting of 9-year-old Kathryn Carter, who was shot in the back just after midnight Wednesday as she sat at a table at her East Judson Avenue home.

Lees said it does not appear that Scott will face any charges related to the shooting of Kathryn.

Police said she was hit by a stray bullet from an exchange of gunfire a couple of doors down from her house. Officers found five spent .40-caliber shell casings at a nearby home, reports said.

Kathryn is being treated at Akron Children’s Hospital in Akron.