JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The man accused of killing a 15-year-old girl over the weekend was in court on Monday for his first appearance.
Police say 21-year-old Johnny Lewis shot 15-year-old Quamiee Russ deliberately and unprovoked as she was sitting on a couch at Hilltop Village Apartments.
Monday morning, around ten of Lewis’s family members showed up at the courthouse, but only his grandfather and another male relative went inside of the courtroom as he appeared before the judge.
During the appearance, Lewis was told by the judge to take the murder charge against him "very seriously".
Police say Lewis and his girlfriend, who lived in the apartment where the shooting occurred, had been arguing, possibly over money, before the shooting. That’s when they Lewis walked up to Russ, who was also staying at the apartment, and shot her without saying a word as she sat on a couch.
Russ died at the scene leaving many neighbors in shock. Neighbors described her as a good girl who was well-mannered and pleasant.
So far, police don't have a motive in the case, but Lewis's relatives say it was an accident, and passionately defended him on Monday. Police say Lewis has been arrested before on sex and drug charges, and that he made no statement when he turned himself in.
Lewis will appear in court again on December 4th. That's when he'll enter a plea on the murder charge against him.
