A 21 year old man has been arrested and charged with the murder of a 4 year old boy who was shot and killed on New Year’s Day.
According to reports the incident occurred on the 700 block of Washington Drive.
Officers went to the complex and followed a trail of blood to an unlocked apartment.
Once inside they found a crime scene but no one there.
They received a call from Grand Prairie police saying that 4 year old Messiah Taplin had been brought to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the head and had died.
Authorities spoke with two women and two men that were inside the residence at the time of the incident.
Two people told police that a stray bullet entered the home through a window.
As police investigated they were able to determine that was not true
After speaking with others and investigating they learned that Zantyler Foster-Hooks,21 and Taplin lived in the apartment together and that Hooks has the gun out while dancing and bringing in the new year.
His gun accidentally went off striking the 4 year old in the head.
It is unclear of the relationship between the shooter and child.
Hooks has been arrested and charged with manslaughter.
