Woman charged with hindering Camden child killing case

CAMDEN, N.J. (WPVI) -- A woman has been charged for allegedly hindering the investigation into the shooting death of an 8-year-old girl in Camden, New Jersey.

Shakia Land, 35, of the 1800 block of Kossuth Street in Camden, was charged with one count fourth-degree hindering an investigation in the shooting death of Gabrielle Hill-Carter.

According to prosecutors, Land gave detectives a false alibi for a person of interest. The charge carries a potential sentence of 18 months in state prison.

'Gabby,' as she was known, was caught in the crossfire and shot in the head while playing outside on Wednesday, Aug. 24. She died a few days later.

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Pictured: Tyhan Brown appears in court. (Courtesy: COURIER-POST)

There have been no arrests for the actual shooting, and police say the community has remained largely silent, despite a reward that has risen to more than $75,000.

"We are going to get every person that is responsible for this. Not just those who pulled the trigger, but everything that led to that event and every individual that is obstructing our investigation," said Camden County Police Chief Scott Thomson.

Meanwhile, Gabby's family is still trying to grasp the loss.

"It doesn't even feel like she's gone. It feels like she's on vacation and she's going to come home soon," said her mother, Meresa Carther-Phillips. "But that's not the case."

"Think about your kids, your nieces, your nephews, your daughters, aunts or cousins. You'd want someone to speak up for them," said Gabby's stepfather, Williams Phillips.

It's been a bittersweet few weeks for Gabby's mother and stepfather. They lost a daughter, but gained a son a few days later. New memories will be made, but old ones will never be forgotten.

"I remember her always telling me it's family time. I remember her coming and rubbing my belly and talking to the baby and asking how I'm doing today," Carter-Phillips said.

It's been two weeks since 8-year-old Gabrielle Carter was caught in a crossfire and shot in the head while playing outside.

Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect or the incident is urged to contact Camden County Prosecutor's Office Detective Sherman Hopkins at (856) 225-8623 or Camden County Police Department Detective Michael Ross at (856) 757-7420.