Mia Alexis-Maria Kritis.Photo: GoFundMe
An arrest has been made in the fatal shooting of a teenage girl at a New Year’s Eve house party in Sioux City, Iowa.
Christopher Morales, 19, was arrested on Jan. 3 and charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon and going armed with intent in connection to the Jan. 1 shooting that claimed the life of 18-year-old Mia Alexis-Marie Kritis.
According toKMEG, Mia was only three weeks shy of graduating early from North High School and had planned to become a nurse.
“I’m glad that other families have their child and children, because this is the worst feeling ever. It really is,” Mia’s dad Christos Kritis told KMEG. “She had the most beautiful smile, so loving, caring. She cared for everybody. She really did.”
Police say they are searching for additional shooters involved in the incident.
“We aren’t releasing how many yet until we can determine for sure,” Sioux City Police Department Sgt. Jeremy McClure tells PEOPLE.
Christopher Morales.Sioux City police department
Police allege Morales and the unidentified suspects had a late-night confrontation outside the Sioux City party house in the 2600 block of Walker St. before they opened fire.
McClure says the shooters used handguns and an assault-style rifle to shoot through the windows and walls of the house. At least 27 rounds were fired. Police believe there were between 20 to 25 people in the house at the time.
“They stood out in the street and opened fire on the house,” he says. “From what we can tell, they were firing into the house indiscriminately.”
Most people at the party were in their late teens and early 20s.
“This was … in a residential area,” says McClure. “An area not known for a high crime rate. People were learning about [the party] through social media. Initial investigation indicates some of the people were from different parts of town and different schools.”
Police say that after they arrested Morales, they found him in possession of a firearm.
“The detectives came in and they did initial tests on the firearm and were able to connect it to the party," McClure says. “We are waiting on more lab results. Additional charges will be pending the results of the forensic examinations.”
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McClure says investigators still want to interview partygoers because many fled before the police arrived. He says the department has no interest in charging anyone for being at an underage party. The department’s priority is to catch the shooters.
“It is definitely a tragic incident,” adds McClure. “Completely senseless and shows a wanton disregard for human life.”
source: people.com
