Teen who slaughtered six members of his family after dad banned him from staying with girlfriend learns his fate
The teenager who slaughtered six members of his family, including an unborn child, after his father banned him from sleeping with his girlfriend has been found guilty of six murders.
Raymond Ronald Lee Childs III, who was 17 at the time, fatally shot his father, Raymond Childs, 42, mother, Kezzie Childs, 42, sister Rita Childs, 13, brother, Elijah Childs, 18, his brother’s girlfriend, Kiara Hawkins, dead. 19, and her unborn son, on Jan. 24, 2021, at a home in Indianapolis.
His five-day trial ended Friday with convictions on all six murder counts, as well as one attempted murder.
Prosecutors said Childs III stormed into the house and opened fire on his family with a Draco 7.62 pistol and a 9MM pistol, killing almost everyone in his path, including Kiara’s unborn child, who would be delivered just two days later.
During the massacre, the convicted killer also shot his younger brother, Xavier Childs, then 15 years old. He was taken to hospital in critical condition and survived.
“To see him behind bars for the rest of his life would be justice for me,” said Roniqua Hawkins, Kiara’s heartbroken mother. 13News when the trial began.
Raymond Ronald Lee Childs III was found guilty of six counts of murder for slaughtering six members of his family in their Indianapolis home (Photo: Childs III in court last week)
Childs III shot and killed his mother Kezzie Childs, 42, sister Rita Childs, 13, brother Elijah Childs, 18, and father Raymond Childs, 42
The convicted killer also killed his brother Elijah’s girlfriend, Kiara Hawkins, 19, and her unborn son
At the time, Childs III’s girlfriend, identified in an affidavit only as JD, said the disaster occurred after the teen’s father called him to return home from her house that day.
He was found guilty of six counts of murder, one count of carrying a licensed pistol and one count of attempted murder
The affidavit describes how Childs III chased a fleeing Xavier and shot him twice as he begged for his life on the family’s porch.
After surviving emergency surgery, Xavier told police officers he heard his father tell Childs III, “I’m sorry Raymond, I love you,” before shooting his parents in their bed.
Xavier also said that before his eldest brother Elijah died, he begged Childs III not to shoot, saying, “I can give you 40 dollars.” I won’t say anything. Please don’t kill me,” court documents revealed.
Hawkins, who had been in bed with Elijah, was transported to a local hospital, where she died along with her unborn baby despite life-saving measures, police said.
The killer’s then-girlfriend later told police that he left in an Uber and returned to her house sometime before 3 a.m. the next day in a white Chrysler, which she said she had never seen him driving before.
During the massacre, the convicted killer also shot his younger brother, Xavier Childs (pictured), then 15 years old. He was taken to hospital in critical condition and survived.
About 30 minutes after Childs III returned to her home, JD said she received a notification on her phone about a shooting on Adams Street. She asked him if he knew anything about it, and he said no.
Later that morning, JD said she convinced Childs III to go to the crime scene, saying he seemed “nervous.” When they both got there, he started crying and “acting like a clown,” she said.
They then went back to her house, where he grabbed some of his clothes and asked her to drive him to another house.
After dropping him off, JD said she saw a gun fly out of the pile of clothes Childs III had left on the floor.
Childs III was arrested at a relative’s home a day after the murders after his brother identified him as the shooter.
The gun was recovered from the family home and the Draco firearm was found after Childs III was arrested, Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said.
Videos later surfaced of Childs III, who used the name “Lil Raymond,” rapping about guns and shooting people, pastor Kenneth Sullivan Jr. said. earlier WHT.
“It’s really heartbreaking, it really hurts,” said Sullivan, whose relationship with the Childs family is unclear.
Prosecutors allege Childs III ran into the home and opened fire on his family with a Draco 7.62 pistol and a 9MM pistol. (photo: images of the Draco pistol used in the massacre)
After surviving emergency surgery, Xavier told police officers he heard his father tell Childs III, “I’m sorry Raymond, I love you,” before the 10 shot his parents (pictured) in their bed.
Sullivan said it was possible the “aspiring artist” was “reenacting” things he rapped about when he carried out the shooting.
After the massacre, Kiara’s mother, Roniqua, told DailyMail.com: ‘She was my first. Everything she taught me has made me the woman and mother I am today.”
The grieving mother created one GoFundMe campaign to raise money for funeral costs, with a photo of her teenage daughter cradling her baby bump.
On July 23, 2024, a judge declared a mistrial at Childs III’s first trial after a witness verbally confronted the now-convicted killer in front of the jury. AP reported.
Last week’s trial concluded after three hours of jury deliberation in a Marion County courthouse.
Xavier said that before his eldest brother Elijah (pictured) died, he begged Childs III not to shoot, saying, “I can give you 40 dollars.” I won’t say anything. Please don’t kill me,” court documents revealed
Videos later surfaced of Childs III, who used the name “Lil Raymond,” rapping about guns and shooting people
In a statement, Mears said the verdict “provided justice for the victims of this horrific crime” and that “what happened in that home is as unfathomable today as it is in 2021.”
“It has been an incredibly difficult journey for the family and friends of the six people we have tragically lost,” the statement said.
Childs III is expected in court on January 7, 2025 for his sentencing hearing.
He faces a prison term of 40 to 65 years for each murder charge, 20 to 40 years for the attempted murder charge and one to six years for the handgun charge.