Eric Black Jr, a 20-year-old man, is accused of shooting Jazmin Barnes, a 7-year-old black girl who was killed while driving a car with her family.
The Harris County Sheriff's Office announced Sunday morning that Eric Black Jr. was charged with the murder of Jazmin Barnes. The office said in a statement that the investigators had identified Black as a suspect after receiving information.
"The investigators do not think that the Jasmin family was the target of the shooting," the statement said. "Maybe they were shot down as a result of mistaken identity."
Jazmine and his family were heading to the store in Houston on December 30th. She was shot dead after a suspect approached the side of the car in which she was traveling and opened fire. Jazmin died on the scene while his mother was shot in the arm. The shooting took place as the family headed for the store.
After being arrested in Harris County, in the east of the country, the police chief's office said Black admitted to taking part in the shooting. Officials also said investigators were investigating the possibility of prosecuting others in the case.
Jazmin's mother, Lapurcha Washington, said she believed the shooting was racist.
Hundreds of people gathered on Saturday afternoon for the girl near the scene with "Justice for Jazmine" signs.
