Cousin charged in death of 14-year-old boy in Pontiac

Damari Edward Mahone, 20, was charged Thursday in the shooting death of 14-year-old Yaharee Stennis earlier this week. Deputies said he told his cousin to get off a mattress where a gun was stashed when Stennis was shot and killed.

A Pontiac man has been charged with murder and felony possession of heroin in connection to the shooting death of a 14-year-old in Pontiac.

Damari Edward Mahone, 20, was charged Thursday in the shooting death of 14-year-old Yaharee Stennis earlier this week.

Investigators called it a tragic accident and said teenage boy was shot and killed while Mahone was moving a gun.

Deputies were called to the home on Willard Street a little after 2:30 Monday morning and found Stennis shot in the chest. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

14-year-old fatally shot overnight in Pontiac house

According to investigators, there was a gun in the home that was placed under a mattress. Deputies say his 20-year-old cousin, Mahone, told Stennis to move off the mattress when the gun went off, hitting Stennis in the chest.

Mahone was arrested at the hospital and deputies said during the investigation, they found a .357, a .22 rifle, and recovered almost 10 grams of heroin. 

He was charged Thursday with involuntary manslaughter, possession of a controlled substance, and two counts of possession of a firearm during a felony. All three charges are felonies and he could get up to 39 years in prison.

Pontiac teen killed after firearm accidentally discharges

Mahone has no previous criminal history. 

Neighbors say Stennis had great promise but unfortunately that potential will never be fulfilled.