By Sheri L. Stuart, Staff Writer
Jamil Griggs has been arraigned in the shooting death of 7-year-old Zaniyah Burns. Griggs was arraigned in 67th District Court on 18 felony charges that include first-degree premeditated murder, discharging a firearm at a building causing death, assault with intent to murder and using a firearm in commission of a felony. The 17-year-old faces up to life in prison with no parole if he is convicted.
Police said Zaniyah was killed Tuesday, Oct. 9 around 8 p.m. while inside her home with family members in 200 block of W. Austin Avenue when shots were fired at the house. Zaniyah was shot in the head. Investigators have said they do not believe she was the intended target and that the shooter may have been after the child’s 16-year-old uncle.
Zaniyah was a 2nd grader at New Standard Academy where she was on the honor roll every year and received numerous awards, including top of her class. Funeral services for Miss Zaniyah Dashay Burns are planned for Friday, Oct. 19 at New Heaven Missionary Baptist Church in Flint.
