Three indicted in shooting of 8-year-old girl

Kim Smith

Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002 | 9:26 a.m.

Three men will be arraigned Jan. 31 in connection with a shooting that left an 8-year-old bystander in critical condition.

Andre Lee, 30, Eric Ogle, 29, and Daniel McLeroy, 27, face multiple charges stemming from the shooting of Karatoya Wilkes, according to an indictment unsealed in District Court Wednesday.

Lee and Ogle are facing charges ranging from conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder to discharging a firearm at a motor vehicle and battery with use of a deadly weapon. Lee faces 18 counts, Ogle, 16.

McLeroy was indicted on two counts, challenge to fight and aiming a firearm at a human being, both felonies.

The most serious of the charges, attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon, carries a four to 40-year sentence, Daskas said.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Robert Daskas said Lee and McLeroy became involved in an argument Dec. 8.

Both men pulled out weapons but, after a time, agreed to put them down, Daskas said. Lee somehow gained possession of both weapons and McLeroy left the scene. McLeroy, this time a passenger in a car, returned a short time later.

Daskas said police believe Lee and Ogle fired both of the weapons at the car in which McLeroy was riding.

Wilkes, who was standing near the intersection of Eastern Avenue and Bonanza Road, was struck in the chest by one of the bullets.

"Just because neither one of them could turn the other cheek, an 8-year-old little girl almost got killed," Daskas said.

Wilkes has since recovered from her wound, Daskas said.