Boy, 14, charged in fatal shooting of a DeKalb County, Ala., woman

A 14-year-old was charged Tuesday in what the local sheriff called the "brutal" shooting death of a DeKalb County, Ala., woman.

Sheriff Jimmy Harris said the victim, Kalena Annette Hicks, 38, had just lost her father last month and that her family is "devastated."

The teen was arrested Tuesday after deputies answered a 911 call on County Road 99 just after 1:05 p.m. CDT, Harris said in a news release.

Deputies found Hicks in the living room of her mobile home. She had been shot, Harris said. Hicks was flown to Huntsville Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 4:20 p.m. CDT Tuesday.

District Attorney Mike O'Dell ordered an autopsy and Coroner Tom Wilson delivered Hicks' body to the Alabama Department of Forensics Science lab in Huntsville for the medical examination.

The teen was taken to a detention facility in Anniston pending a court hearing to determine his status, according to officials.

"This is one of the most disturbing cases I have had to deal with in my career," Harris said. "You just can't imagine a 14-year-old doing something this brutal. This will be a case for the courts to decide on the status of this young man. He will remain in juvenile custody until that decision is made."

Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfree press.com or twitter.com/Ben Benton or www.facebook.com/ben.benton1 or 423-757-6569.

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