NEWARK — An 18-year-old has been jailed on $1 million bond in the shooting death of a 12-year-old Newark girl.
The Newark Advocate reports Keegan Mummey, of Newark, was charged with aggravated murder Monday in Licking County Common Pleas Court, a felony that carries a penalty of up to life in prison. He is being held in the county jail.
Mummey told the magistrate he has a “tendency to black out” and not remember his actions.
Newark police suspect Mummey in the death of Isabella Barnes, who was shot on the front porch of her Newark home on Friday.
Authorities say Mummey fled the scene and was later found riding his bike on Route 79 between Heath and Hebron.
Barnes was shot on the front porch of her family’s home on Ridgelawn Avenue at 9:10 p.m. Friday and was pronounced dead later at Licking Memorial Hospital, Newark police spokesman Sgt. Clint Eskins.
Mummey immediately fled the scene but Eskins says Newark police distributed his photograph and information to Licking County law enforcement agencies and Mummey was spotted on a bicycle on State Route 79 between Heath and Hebron. Officers finally stopped Mummey in the area of U.S. Route 40 and he was arrested by detectives, Eskins said.
Eskins says investigators believe Mummey discarded at least one firearm after fleeing the scene of the shooting and police are asking anyone who locates any type of weapon to call 911 immediately and not attempt to handle it.
Detectives are still interviewing witnesses and gathering information to determine a motive.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to call 740-670-7215.