A 24-year-old man from Michigan, Gyasi Stribling, has been found guilty of first-degree murder for shooting and killing his 8-year-old sister, Bailei Singleton, inside their apartment. The tragic incident happened in 2021, and a jury has now delivered its verdict.
The shocking reason behind the murder? The young girl was reportedly “talking back” to her older brother — a disagreement that ended in a heartbreaking loss.
What Happened?
On January 3, 2021, police in Southfield, a suburb near Detroit, rushed to an apartment at 12 North Apartments after receiving an emergency call. There, they found Bailei critically injured from a gunshot wound. She was immediately taken to a hospital, but sadly, she died a few days later from her injuries.
Gyasi Stribling’s False Story and Arrest
At first, Stribling, who was 20 years old at the time of the crime, claimed that Bailei was shot during a robbery. However, his story quickly fell apart when two witnesses present in the apartment shared a different version of events with the police.
Authorities say Stribling tried to hide the gun, but it was eventually recovered. He was arrested a few days later and has been held at the Oakland County Jail ever since.
Emotional Response From Authorities
The case shocked not only the community but also the police officers involved.
“It’s stressful for us,” said Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren, holding back tears. “It’s stressful for me to stand here before you and control my emotions when talking about an 8-year-old child.”
Barren described the act as a “heinous crime” and expressed his belief that Stribling would be convicted — a prediction that has now come true.
Trial and Conviction
The trial lasted just two days, and after hearing the evidence, jurors found Stribling guilty of first-degree murder. This charge comes with a mandatory life sentence without parole in the state of Michigan.
Stribling’s sentencing is scheduled for May 25, when the judge will officially decide his punishment.
A Community in Mourning
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said in a statement:
“Bailei Singleton should still be here with us today. 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 called the case a reminder of how gun violence has become a public health crisis, capable of taking a life in an instant.