A 16-year-old accused of fatally shooting his brother on Christmas Eve appeared in court on Tuesday, requesting a reduced bail and furlough to attend the memorial service. Kentrail McDaniel, who has been held at the Lancaster County Youth Services Center since December 24, is charged with manslaughter and use of a firearm to commit a felony. The charges stem from the accidental shooting of his 20-year-old brother, Johnathan “Johnny” McCray, in what police described as a case of mistaken identity.
During the hearing, McDaniel’s attorney, Deputy Public Defender John Jorgensen, requested that Lancaster County Court Judge Laurie Yardley lower his bail from $100,000 to $50,000, citing the family’s financial strain due to funeral expenses. Jorgensen also sought a temporary furlough to allow McDaniel to attend the memorial service scheduled for Sunday. He emphasized that McDaniel, who has lived in Lincoln for four years, would return to his family under supervision and GPS monitoring if released.
The Lancaster County Attorney’s Office opposed both requests. Deputy County Attorney Jeff Mathers argued that the bond was reasonable given the circumstances of the case, which involved McDaniel allegedly firing 12 to 15 shots in a residential area. He also noted that the Youth Services Center lacked staff to supervise McDaniel at the memorial service.
Judge Yardley denied both the bail reduction and furlough, citing the seriousness of the charges and public safety concerns. “These are awfully serious charges here,” Yardley stated, referencing police reports of McDaniel carrying and firing an assault rifle in the city. She acknowledged that while McDaniel may not have intended to kill his brother, the number of shots fired created significant danger to the community.
The incident occurred at the Bridgeport Apartments in Lincoln around 12:30 a.m. on December 24. According to court records, McDaniel had been staying with his brother for safety after a recent assault. Police say McDaniel had gone to the apartment complex to return his mother’s car keys and, believing a masked figure approaching him was a threat, fired his rifle without realizing it was his brother. McCray was found with multiple gunshot wounds and later died from his injuries.
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