A 24-year-old man, Gyasi Stribling, has been sentenced to 40 to 60 years in prison for the 2021 murder of his 8-year-old sister, Bailei Singleton. He also received an additional two years for a felony firearm charge, according to WJBK-TV.
Details of the Tragic Incident
The fatal shooting took place in January 2021, when Stribling was 20 years old. Prosecutors said he shot Bailei in the living room of their Southfield, Michigan, home because she was “talking back” to him.
After the shooting, Stribling lied to police, claiming someone had tried to break into the house and shot his sister. He also tried to hide the gun he used in the crime.
Investigation and Conviction
Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren confirmed that investigators ruled the shooting was not accidental. In April, a jury found Stribling guilty of first-degree murder and felony firearm possession.
Prosecutor’s Statement on the Case
Oakland County Prosecuting Attorney Karen McDonald expressed deep sadness after the sentencing, saying,
“Bailei Singleton should still be here with us today. Her murder was a tragedy for her family. It’s unconscionable that anyone, let alone an 8-year-old child, could be murdered by a relative and in their own home over the slightest of disagreements.”
She added, “This case is, unfortunately, a reminder of how gun violence is a public health epidemic that can end a life in an instant.”