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Update: Police arrest Brandon Taray Barnes in girl's killing
San Bernardino arrested Brandon Taray Barnes, 19, in the Monday night slaying of 3-year-old Nylah Franco-Torrez, according to reports. Another 3-year-old child and her 21-year-old pregnant mother were severely wounded in the attack.
Police arrested the man after a foot chase Wednesday night in the neighborhood where the shooting occurred. San Bernardino Police Lt. Gwen Waters says a tip led police to the suspect.
“He had been identified as a subject, gang unit officers attempted to contact him, he ran from them, [there was a] foot pursuit, he was arrested and it was determined to be him,” says Waters.
She says there are no other suspects at this time. Waters says Barnes was known in the community, was a suspected local gang member, and may have been at risk out on the street.
“Oh, I think he was highly at risk from the community," says Waters. "You don’t kill a child in the community and not expect retaliation from the community. And he was arrested within two blocks of the shooting.”
Authorities say they believe the shooting may have been a revenge attack targeting another man who apparently broke up a fight on the street outside the house where the shooting occurred. The young victim’s 3-year old cousin and her pregnant aunt were wounded and remain hospitalized with gunshot wounds. The second toddler shot in the attack is listed in critical condition.
Monday’s attack was one of four shootings across San Bernardino within a 12-hour period. The violence marks an end to more than 60 days without a single homicide in the city.
“We all come together in moments of crisis to solve serious public safety problems, that’s happened here," says San Bernardino Mayor Pat Morris. “We promised it would and it has. We are proud of chief Kilmer and the entire department for what they have done to help make this city safe and deliver on our promise to bring the culprit to justice.”
Barnes faces more than 300 years in prison if convicted on all charges.