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Man arrested for shooting 6-year-old girl in north Charlotte, police say

By Elsa Gillis and Stephanie Tinoco
By Elsa Gillis and Stephanie Tinoco

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A man was arrested and charged with the shooting of a 6-year-old girl in north Charlotte.

Deontaye Smith, 25, was taken into custody Tuesday when he arrived at the courthouse for unrelated charged.

Smith has been charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. He was also served warrants for unrelated drug charges and a separate shooting incident that occurred on May 18.

(Deontaye Smith)

The 6-year-old girl was rushed to the hospital after being shot in a violent shooting spree in north Charlotte Saturday evening.

A woman told Channel 9 reporter Stephanie Tinoco that a person with an assault rifle aimed at her granddaughter before speeding off on Sunstone Drive.

[IMAGES: North Charlotte shootings]

Police said the home had been shot at several times in the past.

Channel 9 reporter Stephanie Tinoco counted at least 12 bullet holes on the front of the home.

The grandmother said she couldn't see the shooter's face, but remembers the shooter was in the passenger seat of the car.

“Somebody rode by, pulled an assault rifle in broad daylight and shot at an innocent child,” she said. “You a coward, that's what you are."

Police said a gunman inside of a vehicle drove by and fired multiple shots toward a home, striking the child just before 7:30 p.m.

“Any kid should have the freedom to get out in the yard and play when they feel like it,” neighbor Ricky Washington said.

"It's really nerve-wracking because I couldn't imagine that happening to me anyone,” a woman said. potentially hurting my child it's really scary."

Police were initially called to Lasalle Street around 7 p.m. after a home was shot into, striking a dog.

Police said a dog from another home was shot after attacking a police officer.

Minutes later, police said there was a shootout on North Hoskins Road, which was connected to the shooting on Lasalle Street.

Officers said a person who was inside the home on Lasalle Street chased the shooter's car. Police found shell casings on the ground.

Then, a home on Sunstone Drive was shot into, and the child was grazed in the knee by the bullet while she was in the yard.

Police are unsure if the third shooting is connected to the first two.

Police said there haven’t been any arrests made.

Police said the girl is expected to recover and the dogs are still alive.

Police are investigating.

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