Two women arrested after shooting of 11-year-old girl in Atlantic City

ATLANTIC CITY – Two women were arrested after an 11-year-old girl was shot from outside an apartment building late Saturday night, police said.

Yanirah Davis, 22, of Galloway Township, and Yontay Cooper, 33, of Egg Harbor Township, were both charged with aggravated assault (10 counts), unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, endangering the welfare of a child, and conspiracy. They are both being held in the Atlantic County Jail.

Police responded to a call to a residence in the 100 block of North Rhode Island Avenue for a child suffering from a gunshot wound. Police found the boy and rendered him aid until he was transported to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus, with non-life-threatening injuries.

An investigation by the police’s violent crimes unit identified Davis and Cooper as the women responsible for the shooting. Police said they arrived on the street with a hammer and a gun and encountered a group with whom they had previously had an altercation.

According to police, the women began smashing the windows of a vehicle and then fired at the group. One of the shots struck a residential building and hit the boy, who was lying on the ground at the time.

The two women were charged Sunday morning. Egg Harbor Township Police Officer Alexandros Doukopoulos found Cooper and arrested her Sunday morning. That afternoon, Pleasantville Sergeants Stephen Sample and Kendall Washington and Officer Musah Ali Davis arrested her. Both suspects were turned over to Atlantic City Police.