In the summer of 2016, a senseless act of violence tragically cut short the life of 6-year-old Isis Allen, a female child from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. On the night of July 17, Isis was with her babysitter in the Knoxville neighborhood when she was struck in the head by a stray bullet. She was not the intended target of the gunfire. Rushed to UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, she fought for her life for three days before she was taken off life support and passed away on July 20.
The investigation into the shooting quickly led police to 19-year-old Kamau Thomas Jr. Authorities stated that Thomas was on Sarah Street to act as 'security' for a planned fight between two women. An argument erupted between Thomas and another man who Thomas claimed had a gun and had threatened him. In response, Thomas retrieved a gun and fired multiple shots from an alley toward a porch where a group of people had gathered, intending to scare the other man. One of those bullets tragically struck Isis. Thomas later told investigators that he was aiming at the roof and that the gun's trigger was sensitive, causing it to fire repeatedly until the magazine was empty. He reportedly did not realize he had shot the young girl until he saw the news on social media.
Kamau Thomas Jr. was arrested and initially charged with attempted homicide, reckless endangerment, and aggravated assault. Following Isis's death, the charges were upgraded to include criminal homicide. In February 2017, Thomas, then 20, accepted a plea deal and pleaded guilty to third-degree murder. He expressed remorse in court, stating, 'I'm truly, truly sorry for my actions.' As a result of the plea agreement, he was sentenced to 15 to 40 years in prison. During the sentencing, Isis's mother, Taquea Sykes, expressed her profound grief and stated that while she would not condemn her daughter's killer, she could not forgive him. The devastating loss prompted her to move away from Pittsburgh, unable to bear the constant reminder of her pain.
