Murder in First Grade – Dedrick Owens & Kayla Rolland

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19th January 2019  •  5 min read

On the 29th of February, 2000, 6-year-old Dedrick Owens took a gun school and shot dead 6-year-old Kayla Rolland. He subsequently became the youngest school shooter in a nation plagued by such tragedies.


Murder in First Grade - Dedrick Owens & Kayla Rolland

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Kayla Rolland, 6, loved to go to church and watch her favourite show on television, Barney. She was known as a kind and sensitive little girl who “would help anybody.” Her babysitter described as having a heart of gold and in school, she was the top reader in her first-grade class. She lived in Mount Morris Township, Michigan, with her mother and two older siblings.

Murder in First Grade - Dedrick Owens & Kayla Rolland
Kayla Rolland.

On the 29th of February, 2000, Kayla arrived for her classes at Buell Elementary School. The school was situated in the heart of a rough neighbourhood, rife with unemployment and heavy drug use. During a change of classes, most of the first-graders were lined up in the hallway, ready to move to their next class. As some children lingered in the home room – including Kayla – the first-grade teacher, Alicia Judd, went into the hallway to check on the other children. When the teacher stepped out of the classroom, Dedrick Owens, also 6-years-old, approached Kayla. While standing in front of her, Dedrick announced: “I don’t like you.” Kayla turned around and retorted: “So?”1 Without responding, Dedrick lifted out a .32 handgun from his trouser waistband and shoot Kayla. The bullet entered her right arm and travelled through a vital artery.

As a small, crimson spot spread across her pullover shirt, Kayla said: “I’m going to die,” to another classmate before crumpling to the ground. Judd, who heard the commotion, ran back into the classroom, saw the blood-spattered body of her pupil and called 911:

Judd: “I have a student at Buell school that [is] dying. I need an ambulance immediately.”

911: “Where’s the child that has been shot?”

Judd: “Right here on the floor in my class. Oh, God, please, she’s getting white. The little girl is getting white.”

911: “Is she breathing?”

Judd: “No, she’s not.”2

Following the shooting, Dedrick placed the gun on his desk and ran out into the hall, where he was detained by school officials and taken to the principal’s office. Kayla was treated by paramedics at the scene and was rushed to Hurley Medical Center where she was pronounced dead at 10:29AM. Her mother’s cries could be heard throughout the halls of the hospital.

Dedrick subsequently became the youngest school shooter in a nation overwhelmed by such tragedies. He was taken into police custody where he explained what he had done. It was noted he showed no remorse nor did he seem upset. He simply believed that he had been “naughty” and that a “bad thing had happened.”3After telling his story, Dedrick sat drawing pictures on a piece of paper given to him by authorities. “He thought this was like television, meaning people don’t really die. He was expressing to police he didn’t understand it was real,” said Police Chief Eric King.

As it soon became apparent, Dedrick and his older brother had been living in a crack den operated by his uncle, Sir Marcus Winfrey, and another man, Jamelle James. Dedrick’s mother, Tamarla Owens, had moved the two boys in with her brother and his friend after the young family were evicted from their home. The crack den on Juliah St. was notorious as a haven for cocaine users which would often trade stolen guns for drugs. “He was basically living in hell,” said Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickerell. The house had been under federal investigations for drug and gun trafficking before the shooting. However, police were building a case and hadn’t yet moved on the house.

Even before moving to the crack den, Dedrick had been living with his drug addicted mother who would later confess she frequently exposed all of her children to marijuana despite their young ages. In addition to Dedrick and his brother, Tamarla had another daughter who she took to live with other relatives. Despite her evident problems, Tamarla had been working two jobs in Oakland County in an attempt to get off welfare. At the time of the shooting, Dedrick’s father, Dedric, was in jail for violating parole. He had been convicted of cocaine possession with the intent to sell.

An investigation uncovered that the gun used in the shooting had been stolen by Jamelle, who routinely kept it loaded and often twirled it in front of the two boys, creating an atmosphere of reckless circumstances. In the days leading up to the shooting, several witnesses would later tell police they had seen Dedrick playing with the gun which wasn’t kept in a secure place. Alarmingly, numerous phone calls had been placed to the police by the neighbours who knew that the living conditions were unacceptable for two children. “It took a killing to get these people out of here,” one neighbour quipped.

It was uncovered that throughout his short life, Dedrick had behavioural issues. He was known to kick and hit his other classmates and pick fights. A classmate recalled how Dedick had punched him after he refused to give him a pickle. Even more alarming, Dedrick had once been suspended for stabbing a fellow student with a pencil.4 In fact, Dedrick had attacked Kayla beforehand and just the day before the shooting, he had attempted to kiss her on the playground and she pushed him away. He later told police he had taken the gun to school in an attempt to scare Kayla after their playground altercation. Shortly after the shooting, County prosecutor Arthur Busch said that Dedrick knew that the gun was loaded when he retrieved it from his pants and fired, but “whether he could understand what the result would be was another matter.”5

Murder in First Grade - Dedrick Owens & Kayla Rolland
Dedrick Owens.

Michigan law states that somebody needs to be old enough to form criminal intent to commit the crime of murder. Moreover, the common law of the United States decrees that a child under the age of seven is not criminally responsible and cannot be convicted of a felony. Therefore, it was declared that Dedrick lacked the ability to form intent and was not charged with murder. Instead, Dedrick was expelled for 90 days in accordance with Michigan’s school anti-weapons law and placed into foster care.

Following the shooting, Dedrick’s father apologised for the shooting but refused to take responsibility. “The only thing I feel responsible for is not being there in his life like I’m supposed to be, like a father, every day.”6 For not keeping the gun in a secure location and therefore granting Dedrick access to the weapon,  Jamelle James was charged with involuntary manslaughter. He pleaded no contest and was sentenced to two to 15 years imprisonment. Sir Marcus Winfrey pleaded guilty to federal firearms charges and was sentenced to six to 12 months imprisonment. Tamarla Owens, who would claim she had no idea that stolen guns were being sold inside the house, was charged with neglect.

Kayla was the youngest school shooting victim in the United States until the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012. Kayla’s mother, Veronica McQueen, went on to become a staunch advocate for stricter gun control. “I wanted to go back to semi-normal, and me being mom at home taking care of my children,” she said. “But this is leading me in another direction. I tried to fight it at first, but I have to follow my heart.”7

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Footnotes:

  1. Time, 5 March, 2000 – “The Killing of Kayla”
  2. Washington Post, 21 March, 2000 – “A 6-Year-Old Killer Who Had No Place To Call Home”
  3. The Sun, 2 March, 2000 – “Face of Killer Aged 6”
  4. The Packet & Times, 22 December, 2001 – “It Was Murder in the First Grade”
  5. The Daily Telegraph, 10 March, 2000 – “90 Days’ Expulsion”
  6. The Advertiser, 4 March, 2000 – “A Boy who Hated His Classmates”
  7. The Toronto Star, 5 January, 2003 – “Children With Guns Killing Children”

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Jamie
Jamie
5 years ago

I am kind of conflicted here. I do think that despite his age he should have served some kind of sentence… Maybe that’s cruel of me but it seems unjust.

Cailin
Cailin
5 years ago
Reply to  Jamie

I disagree. At this age, he is absolutely a product of his environment and needs therapy. He has way too young a mind to fully grasp the consequences of his actions, and when he realizes what he has done that will be enough of a punishment.

Susie
Susie
5 years ago
Reply to  Cailin

Mmm I dunno where I stand. Yeah he was a product of his environment but to allow children to kill other children with no repercussions is a slippery slope.

Jay
Jay
4 years ago
Reply to  Susie

look at his background though it wasn’t that pleasant

Mac
Mac
4 years ago
Reply to  Susie

racism is not cute dude.

Augh
Augh
3 months ago
Reply to  Mac

You stupid fuck how the hell was she even being racist

Augh
Augh
3 months ago
Reply to  Augh

oop nevermind-

Sunny tang
Sunny tang
4 years ago
Reply to  Susie

He tried to kiss her. That doesn’t show hate for a race just reaction to an action. Not everyone with a bad and traumatic upbringing chooses to harm someone else. Yes it’s messed he killed someone due to his upbringing but this has nothing to do with race.

Krystal
Krystal
3 years ago
Reply to  Susie

What the fuck dude.

MissyMae
MissyMae
3 years ago
Reply to  Susie

He’s not a product of his race, he’s a product of the environment he grew up in. Ex: The document states-“The crack den on Juliah St. was notorious as a haven for cocaine users which would often trade stolen guns for drugs.” He couldn’t just get himself out of there. Another thing the document states – “He thought this was like television, meaning people don’t really die. He was expressing to police he didn’t understand it was real,”-  He was to young to understand what exactly he was doing. And while he did need to receive support and help, he… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by MissyMae
Adam
Adam
8 months ago
Reply to  MissyMae

Where did she say race was the issue? Or reason? What? She said ENVIRONMENT. Why are you people obsessed with wanting to pin everybody as anti-black LOL

Angela
Angela
2 years ago
Reply to  Susie

Ong you’re a horrible person. Wow.

Lee
Lee
2 years ago
Reply to  Susie

you okay? everything is not BLM you know?
look at you, can’t you find an ounce of sympathy for the victim here than getting all self-righteous and talking about race issues? Your momma didn’t teach you any respect for the dead?

Al B Clarke
Al B Clarke
2 years ago
Reply to  Susie

Are you nuts? Race is not the issue here. Drop it.

Adam
Adam
8 months ago
Reply to  Susie

This makes no sense lol like the grammar doesn’t, the language doesn’t, the context doesn’t lol

Al B Clarke
Al B Clarke
2 years ago
Reply to  Cailin

True but irrelevant to the fact that he is a threat to public safety and needs a restrictive environment.

Kevin
Kevin
10 months ago
Reply to  Cailin

Didn’t you paid attention to the details above? When Kayla saw her blood on her shirt, she said, “I’m going to die.” SHE KNEW, OKAY?! And she was also 6 years of age, you got that? And do you get this? Kayla was exactly 7 days younger than Dedric. And for the record, I personally encountered Dedric’s father, Dedric. Sr., from school. Want me to go there? Okay, here goes: late August 1986 – Me in the 7th grade as a 12-year-old and in the Physical Education class. I was in the school gym, first day in class just doing… Read more »

Last edited 10 months ago by Kevin
Augh
Augh
3 months ago
Reply to  Kevin

is everything okay at home

EEEEEE
EEEEEE
3 months ago
Reply to  Kevin

Didn’t you paid attention to the details above? When Kayla saw her blood on her shirt, she said, “I’m going to die.” SHE KNEW, OKAY?! And she was also 6 years of age, you got that? And do you get this? Kayla was exactly 7 days younger than Dedric. And for the record, I personally encountered Dedric’s father, Dedric. Sr., from school. Want me to go there? Okay, here goes: late August 1986 – Me in the 7th grade as a 12-year-old and in the Physical Education class. I was in the school gym, first day in class just doing… Read more »

Josephine
Josephine
4 years ago
Reply to  Jamie

You have no compassion- and probably think this has nothing to do with the welfare system; they could use and abuse the mom
But not be sure her kids were safe — the feds KNEW the kids were in that house with guns and drugs but decided their investigation wasn’t complete — give me a break. PS I am NOT a Republican or Democrat— I am a human being.

Damon jones
Damon jones
4 years ago
Reply to  Jamie

I agree. He should be taken out of that environment and put into juvenile detention until he’s 18. I knew a guy who killed his parents when he was 13 and he was in juvenile detention until age 18.

Jing
Jing
3 years ago
Reply to  Damon jones

You’re comparing killing 2 people at age 13 vs killing 1 person at age 6…

Al B Clarke
Al B Clarke
2 years ago
Reply to  Damon jones

And how is your pal doing now?

Krystal
Krystal
3 years ago
Reply to  Jamie

You REALIZE your still talking about a CHILD here right!? Yes he did some bad shit but saying that he should just go die is incredibly wrong.

Al B Clarke
Al B Clarke
2 years ago
Reply to  Jamie

His background is clearly a major factor. Also, BTW, a little girl is dead and he did it. No matter what the rationale for his behavior, if he is thus dangerous around other people, a restrictive environment is needed for public safety. When is a kid messed up beyond repair? Only God knows, but regardless of what’s fair to the perp, this was clearly not fair to the little girl or the next victim or the next. Restrictive environment. Necessary at least for now. Probably for a long time. Public safety is the ultimate goal of the legal system, not… Read more »

Heather
Heather
2 years ago
Reply to  Jamie

ROTTEN SUB-HUMAN?! He was a child!!
I think if you can call a child such a thing, you need to reconsider who is sub-human here…

Your Mom
Your Mom
3 months ago
Reply to  Jamie

that was definitely racially motivated

ya yeet
ya yeet
5 years ago

yee yee

Your Mom
Your Mom
3 months ago
Reply to  ya yeet

what-

ya yeet
ya yeet
5 years ago

this is no good 🙁 i feel bad for the girl she did nothing :((

nts
nts
4 years ago

Everyone that was living in this crack den (doing drugs), any and all people who ever did any ‘business dealings’ there, and all of their associates should have sentenced to capital punishment. No plea deals, no commutations, nothing. Just capital punishment handed down by the courts.

cactus girl
cactus girl
3 years ago

what a horrific case and that poor little girl…it is mind boggling. This boy that shot her will probably go on in his life to do more terrible things. What a nasty awful boy.

Elle
Elle
3 years ago

Both of the children are victims here.

Lee
Lee
2 years ago
Reply to  Elle

no just one.
one is dead but alive, the other is alive but dead.

Last edited 2 years ago by Lee
EGEGE
EGEGE
3 months ago
Reply to  Lee

what made no goddamn sense

A concerned Grandmother
A concerned Grandmother
1 year ago

I don’t understand the conflict he was just a baby, he didn’t have the love of a parent , he didn’t know right from wrong.How many times did he wittness someone have a gun drawn on them, how many times do you think he went to bed hungry, how many times do you think he just want a hug, or someone to care. He has been punished enough. May God have mercy on your souls.

Kevin
Kevin
10 months ago

No, he was NOT a “baby.” There’s no such thing as a baby in ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS – EVER!! You DON”T send babies to schools. You send them to either daycare centers if you’re working or to babysitters. My maternal grandfather – born in Arkansas in the 1920s and Black – lost his father due to natural causes at age 6 – thus making him the Man of the House having just a 4-year-old brother and his widowed mother. And he very quickly learned about life, death, & ethics because he didn’t had a choice. I’m tired of hearing people say,… Read more »

Aj Cox
Aj Cox
1 year ago

I think all of the adults should be held responsible and that boy should be held responsible as well you can’t tell me he didn’t know she would die. To hell with that family! God be with that baby girl and her family.

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