Khalil Malik McCraney tried to murder a woman, police said. (Mug shot: Delaware County Jail)
Khalil Malik McCraney, 19, allegedly claimed he acted in “self-defense and was scared,” when he fired a semi-automatic rifle at a woman in her apartment complex — but cops said that surveillance footage showed that the victim never appeared to see him and that the attack appeared to be an ambush, according to reports from Indianapolis Fox affiliate WXIN.
Also, contrary to his claim that he thought he fired almost 10 times, investigators discovered 31 rounds at the scene, police said.
Police also accuse the suspect’s father, Tyjuan Darryl McCraney, 44, of driving him to the scene and giving him the rifle as part of the murder plot.
The victim was shot four times but survived the attack, officers said.
Officers in the city of Muncie, Indiana, said they received a shots fired call on Tuesday and responded to the hospital to speak to the victim. Investigators later recovered surveillance footage showing her arriving at her apartment complex and parking her vehicle. Khalil McCraney allegedly soon arrived and fired in her direction while she was sitting inside the car. The front driver’s window shattered from the gunfire.
She managed to escape, however. So did McCraney, though cops soon found him, authorities said.
Tyjuan Darryl McCraney provided the gun that his son, Khalil Malik McCraney, used in a murder attempt, cops said. (Mug shot: Delaware County Jail)
He later told investigators that the woman had shot at his grandfather’s home twice earlier in the day, so he and his father followed her back to the complex, according to reported documents. Khalil McCraney allegedly claimed he was scared and acted in self-defense. Police, however, said the footage did not show the woman firing back. Indeed, McCraney’s shooting allegedly looked like an ambush based on his positioning, according to police.
Tyjuan McCraney, who was reportedly convicted of strangulation in 2016, was barred from owning a gun, and yet he allegedly gave his son the rifle used in the incident.
Police reportedly said he admitted hearing his son say, “Imma take care of this now” after spotting the woman.
Khalil McCraney is charged with attempted murder and criminal recklessness. Tyjuan McCraney is charged with aiding, inducing or causing an offense; conspiracy; unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon.
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