Teen accused of killing 14-year-old in what parents say was an ambush shooting

COVINGTON, Ky. (WXIX/Gray News) - Police say a 17-year-old from Kentucky has been arrested in connection with a shooting that killed one 14-year-old and injured another.

A 17-year-old is being held at the Campbell County Regional Juvenile Detention Center for the murder of 14-year-old Amani Smith, Covington police announced Wednesday.

Police responded to an intersection near Latonia Christian Church in Covington around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. They found two 14-year-olds, one of them Amani, with gunshot wounds. Both were taken to the hospital, WXIX reports.

Amani was pronounced dead at the hospital on arrival, police said. The other teen is still hospitalized.

Amani’s mom, Amber Smith, says her son was ambushed after school as he walked to his grandmother’s house. She and her husband believe the 14-year-old’s older brother was the intended target, saying there were issues at school that escalated.

“He was on the phone with his older brother, and his older brother said his last words were, ‘I ain’t got nothing on me.’ Then, his phone dropped,” said Amani’s father, Buddy Walton.

Smith and Walton say there was a group waiting at the bus stop for their oldest son. When Amani walked past, they say he was shot in his head and shoulder.

The other teen who was shot was Amani’s girlfriend, his parents say.

The investigation is ongoing.

Police are asking those who live in the area of the shooting “to check any camera systems they may have for footage that would strengthen the investigation.”

Both victims were students in the Covington Independent Public Schools district, according to a press release. The district published a statement on its Facebook page in the wake of the shooting.

“The Covington Independent Public Schools family is deeply saddened to inform our school community of the tragic incident that occurred Tuesday and resulted in the loss of one of our students and the injury of another one,” wrote Superintendent Alvin L. Garrison. “We know that the children’s reactions to such a tragedy will cover a wide range of emotions. Sometimes their reactions may seem inappropriate. Sometimes even students who did not know the victims will react strongly.”

Garrison said the school staff would meet with students on Wednesday.

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