No Charges for Baltimore Officer in Accidental Shooting Death of 13 yr old Black Girl: Killed by Teens but Gun Found in Officer's car

From [HERE] The State's Attorney has decided against charging a police officer after the rifle used in the accidental killing of a 13 year old girl by playmates was found in his car.  Officer John Ward remains on departmental suspension.

But he will not face charges related to events that followed the shooting earlier this year that left Monae Turnage dead. The girl's body was hidden under trash in an alley after she was accidentally shot while playing with two friends. Later the rifle was found in Ward's vehicle. He has been suspended while his conduct in the aftermath of the shooting is under investigation

The Sun reported that prosecutors found insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges.

Officer Ward was engaged to a relative of one of the two boys whose cases are being handled in the juvenile justice system. The rifle belonged to a relative of one of the boys. Now that man faces related charges of reckless endangerment.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said she was affected as a mother by the incident.

"The thought of the allegations, it was hard to imagine the pain that would cause that family," Rawlings-Blake said. "She was a beautiful, beautiful girl who lost her life tragically and senselessly. While the state's attorney has declined to prosecute, the officer is still on administrative leave and that process is ongoing."

During his first appearance at the city's Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, Police Commissioner Anthony W. Batts said Wednesday that he hoped the findings of the internal investigation "will be coming to me soon."

Edith Turnage, Monae's mother, said Wednesday that she knew nothing about a departmental investigation into Ward, and was disappointed in the result of the criminal probe.

She has also expressed frustration with the handling of the juveniles accused in the case. The 13-year-old who admitted to involuntary manslaughter was given an indefinite commitment to a juvenile treatment facility. The 12-year-old who told authorities he helped move the body was being monitored by Department of Juvenile Services workers while residing with a relative in Harford County.

Turnage has expressed frustration that officials did not notify her that Ward would not be charged. Mark Cheshire, a spokesman for the city prosecutor, said Wednesday that the office did not fulfil its commitment to communicate with victims and their families in this case, and would reach out to her.