Man charged in toddler’s death

Sun., March 9, 2008

The Spokesman-Review

A 23-year-old man was charged with negligent homicide Friday in the shooting death of a 19-month-old girl.

Dwayne Smail appeared in Flathead County Justice Court, where his bail was set at $200,000.

His arraignment was scheduled for March 27.

Smail, who was taking care of Korbyn Eva May Williams, called 911 Wednesday night to report the shooting. The toddler suffered a gunshot wound to the head, sheriff’s deputies said.

According to court documents, Smail told investigators he placed a 9 mm pistol – which had no safety – on an exposed portion of his bed’s box spring before he went to sleep.

He awoke to Korbyn tapping him on the shoulder and holding the gun. When Smail tried to grab it from her, it went off, according to the documents.

An autopsy was conducted Thursday, but results hadn’t been released.

Wingert said forensic experts from the Washington State Crime Lab, who also work as paid private consultants, would help investigate the death.

SEATTLE

African-American museum opens

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice and King County Councilman Larry Gossett were in the crowd of about 1,000 that showed up Saturday for the opening of the Northwest African American Museum.

The first museum devoted to African-American history in Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho and British Columbia opened on Saturday at the 19,000-square-foot museum at the former Colman School in Seattle’s Central Area.

The Rev. Samuel McKinney of the Mount Zion Baptist Church gave the invocation. He expressed gratitude to the activists who occupied the then-abandoned building, starting in the 1980s, and prevented it from being leveled.

The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle bought the property from Seattle Public Schools in 2003. The museum is part of the Urban League Village, a $22.6 million project, at the school. The upper floors have affordable housing.

From wire reports

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