Sheriff Announces Juvenile Charged in Monday Shooting Death

A 15-year-old is charged in connection to the death of his mother in Stephens County on Monday, Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley said Tuesday.

Authorities have charged the 15-year-old juvenile, whose name was not released by authorities, with malice murder in connection to the shooting death of 46-year-old Kim Lanier at her Prather Bridge Road residence on Monday morning, said Shirley.

The charge comes after an investigation by both state and local authorities that took all day on Monday.

“A search warrant was procured and served on the residence,” said Shirley. “GBI agents and my investigators worked all afternoon until around 10 p.m. Monday night, collecting and processing evidence. The juvenile, who has mental challenges, made a statement to the GBI and uttered some comments on video that he in fact shot his mother.”

The juvenile is currently being held in a Regional Youth Detention Center after being booked at the Stephens County Jail Monday and given a first appearance hearing in Magistrate Court late Monday night, the sheriff said.

According to Shirley, the case has been turned over to the Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s office for review.

Meanwhile, the victim was transported to the GBI Crime Lab in Atlanta where a forensic autopsy will be performed.

Lanier was pronounced dead Monday morning by Stephens County Coroner Chris Stephens after the juvenile charged in the case called 911 at about 10:45 a.m. Monday to report someone had been shot at the residence, Shirley said.

Authorities arriving on scene found Lanier inside the residence with a gunshot wound, he went on to say.

The sheriff said his office is saddened by the tragedy and their thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Lanier family.

Kim Lanier was an owner of the Cutting Edge Day Spa in Toccoa and her husband is the fire chief of the Shiloh Volunteer Fire Department in Stephens County.