Student shot dead while bringing down Christmas decorations
A teenage boy has been arrested after allegedly shooting his housemate while she was taking down their Christmas decorations.
Cayman Wilson, 17, from Crosby, Texas, has been charged with manslaughter and is currently being held at the Harris County Jail on a $50,000 bond.
The victim of the shooting has been identified by family members as 19-year-old Marissa Dikeman, a Houston Christian University student who was Wilson's housemate and co-worker.
The deadly shooting took place at the 4400 block of Sherri Lane off Highway 90, according to authorities.
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Speaking to ABC13, Marissa's grandfather explained that she had finished work at her family's deer processing business at 7.30pm after which, she and her two co-workers, who were also her friends, came back to the house to take down Christmas decorations.
Marissa Dikeman was the youngest of three siblings, and had been studying educational administration, with plans to graduate next year.
When she was a student at Crosby High School, Marissa had been an award-winning member of the 4H club for raising deer, turkeys and chickens.
Authorities later confirmed to local networks that the boys were helping Marissa Dikeman take down the Christmas decorations when she was allegedly gunned down by Cayman Wilson.
Paramedics were rapidly called to the scene, but Marissa was pronounced dead shortly after their arrival.
The other 17-year-old boy who was questioned at the scene, has not been charged.
Sgt. Greg Pinkins from the Harris County Sheriff's Office stated that the firearm supposedly belonged to another one of Dikeman's roommates, who was not present during the incident.
Marissa's grandparents also said that they knew Wilson to be 'a good kid' and didn't want him to be charged for their granddaughter's death.
"It's bad enough that he has to live with what happened the rest of his life," Marissa's grandfather told reporters.
A court document seen by The New York Post suggests that Wilson shot and Dikeman while 'playing with a firearm.' When the gun discharged, it struck Marissa, Sgt Pinkins said.
It has not yet been determined whether or not the shooting was accidental, and deputies are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Cayman is due to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, 3 January.
Local reports confirm that the teenager had no previous criminal history in Harris County, and He does not have a defence attorney listed in court records.
Ali Condon